The attorney representing five women who allege sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse by former Jesuit priest Marko Ivan Rupnik has issued a sharp criticism of the Vatican's opaque legal proceedings. Laura Sgro, in a letter addressed to the Vatican, stated that her clients have no right to information regarding the trial, a situation she deemed incompatible with justice.
Sgro’s intervention follows a report from an Italian blog, Messa in Latino, which suggested Rupnik had been absolved in a canonical trial. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied the report, nor has it disclosed the specific allegations Rupnik faced within the church's tribunal. Vatican officials have stated the case remains ongoing.
The scandal involving Rupnik, once an internationally recognized religious artist whose mosaics adorn churches worldwide, including in Lourdes and the Vatican, has emerged as a sensitive issue for the Holy See. Concerns have been raised about his alleged protection by Jesuit superiors and the Vatican hierarchy for over three decades.
The accusations against Rupnik began to surface widely in late 2022, though reports of misconduct dating back to the 1990s had reportedly been dismissed by the Catholic hierarchy. The Jesuits acknowledged Rupnik's brief excommunication in 2020 for a serious offense: using the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity.
However, the Vatican declined to prosecute other claims from women, citing the age of the allegations and the fact that the alleged victims were adults at the time. In 2023, the Jesuits expelled Rupnik from their order after more than two dozen women came forward with accusations of abuse spanning over 30 years. Rupnik remains a priest, and his supporters have denied the allegations, characterizing them as "defamatory and unproven."
Under pressure to address the claims, Pope Francis waived the statute of limitations on older accusations in 2023, allowing for a formal canonical trial. The Vatican appointed judges two years later, and by late last year, the trial was confirmed to be underway. Pope Leo XIV, in November, urged patience for the victims, emphasizing the principle of innocent until proven guilty within the church's legal framework.
Sgro expressed frustration with the lack of communication from Vatican officials, noting that her calls and emails have gone unanswered and her clients have not been interviewed. She questioned how the church's secretive approach aligns with its stated commitment to victims and justice, especially given the decades-old nature of the complaints.
Under current canonical abuse investigation rules, victims are treated as third-party witnesses with no access to case files or participation in proceedings. While a 2019 reform allows victims to be informed of the final outcome, other details remain inaccessible. International bodies have repeatedly condemned this secrecy, finding it retraumatizing for victims and noting that canon law is primarily designed for institutional justice and offender reform, not survivor healing. A 2021 report by French experts suggested the Vatican's procedures potentially violate international human rights obligations for U.N. observer states.