Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa and president of the
Italian Episcopal Conference, is expressing his "profound grief" over
the case of Father Riccardo Seppia, who was arrested for pedophilia and
drug charges.
Father Seppia, 51, was a parish priest of Sastri
Ponente, near Genoa, before he was arrested May 13. Investigators say
they have evidence of him arranging sexual encounters with minors as
young as 14, and offering cocaine to older youth.
Cardinal Bagnasco issued a communiqué the day of the priest's arrest
to express his "full confidence" in the magistrates' investigations, in
addition to his "fraternal closeness to the victims and their families."
He also affirmed his "renewed solidarity of the Christian community,
which is being so painfully tested."
In addition, the cardinal pointed out that, "in keeping with
canonical discipline and in particular with the directives of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith," Father Seppia was
immediately suspended "of all pastoral ministry and all sacramental
acts, in addition to the immediate revocation of the faculty to hear
sacramental confessions."
In a homily last Thursday at Genoa's Shrine of Our Lady of Guardia,
on the occasion of the Day of Priestly Sanctification, the cardinal
spoke of the "sorrow for all the forms of sin and evil that, if they
have really been committed by our brother, disfigures the beauty of the
soul, scandalizes souls and wounds the face of the Church."
"Our grief is so profound because it was so unforeseen and unexpected
-- nothing seemed to presage it. We want to entrust to the Virgin all
those who have suffered the scandal in any way, and communicate to them
our humble and sincere closeness," he said.
"We believe," Cardinal Bagnasco continued, "that our expression and
feelings of sorrow will lead us to important reflections on the path of
conversion necessary for all, which tirelessly challenges all the
disciples of Christ, all the true ministers of God."
"As docile children," he added, "let us pray to the Virgin Mary that
we might have the courage of the truth, to scrutinize ourselves deep
down to sing the works of the Lord, because the Lord's love is faithful
and eternal, as the Psalm says which we have just prayed: He never
abandons us, he is always with us if we make room for him in our
hearts."