The suspension was handed down by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the body of the Vatican charged with defending the Church’s doctrine and morals.
“The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prohibits Cristían Precht from public exercise of the priestly ministry for a period of five years,” the Vatican decreed in a letter to Santiago’s Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello.
Precht was first accused of sexual abuse in 2011, and more than 20 victims have since come forward. Ezzati asked for a judgement from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “for the sake of people, plaintiffs and the need for justice.”
The Congregation reviewed the various cases brought forward and found cause for official action from the Church.
“In this process credible reports of abusive behaviors with older and younger victims were found,” the Congregation said.
The Vatican’s judgement prohibits Precht from administering the sacrament of confession and from “administering spiritual direction to young people and minors.” Precht will have to stay in a “fixed residence” determined by the ecclesiastical authority. He will have to request permission to leave the country and is expected to “lead a life of prayer and penance.”
Although the Vatican expects Precht to follow the ruling, there is a vague contingency plan prepared.
“In case of failure to observe these (rulings), ecclesiastical authority could impose greater sanctions,” the Vatican said.
Family of one of the victims, Patricio Vela Montero, are pleased with the decree by the Vatican, but they hope to see more progress.
“Today, knowing the judgment of guilt of Precht issued by the Vatican, we hope that this will mean a step towards more resolute and clear protection of victims of sexual abuse and the abuse of power by Catholic priests” the Montero family said in a statement.
Since the accusations first surfaced in 2011, Precht has defended his innocence.
“I say that I have a very clear conscious about this,” Precht told Radio Cooperativa in 2011. “There is no substance (to the accusation), but I can’t go back in time prove this.”
Precht’s brother, Hernán Precht, reacted to the latest news out of the Vatican by calling attention to the other cases of abuse by Chilean priests.
“I am not surprised at how public this case has become, or that the Church doesn’t comment on other cases. There is no comment on the priest in Curicó or the bishop in Iquique who have both committed sexual abuses,” he told La Tercera. “The Church is busy ruining one individual’s image, and after spending everything to clean it, that person cannot continue to live a normal life.”
Following the system in place at the Vatican, Precht has 60 days to appeal this decision by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and his brother said the priest will do so.
“One has to fight for his innocence until the end,” Hernán Precht said.
These alleged abuses have been particularly controversial as Precht was known best for his human rights work during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) for the Church’s Committee for Cooperation for Peace and the Vicariate of Solidarity.
Precht has yet to face criminal charges within the Chilean judicial system.