Currents News Staff
Abuse allegations are coming from within the walls of the Vatican — the trial held on Oct. 14 is believed to be the first in the city-state’s history.
The charges against two priests were initially declared unfounded by several bishops.
One priest was accused of using his authority to commit sexual abuse between 2007 and 2012, and the other was accused of failing to report that abuse.
Father Gabriele Martinelli was not a priest at the time, but a senior student and coordinator at the Saint Pius pre-seminary.
Both Martinelli and his alleged victim were under the age of 18 when the abuse began.
However, the case states the abuse continued until Martinelli was 20-years-old. The court will only prosecute him for the crimes committed when he was an adult.
The rector at the time, Monsignor Enrico Radice, was also present in court Wednesday. There are accusations that he knew about the abuse and failed to report it.
Because the alleged crimes occurred within the confines of Vatican City, the city-states criminal prosecutors have jurisdiction, and decided to charge the two priests in what is believed to be the first trial of its kind in the Vatican tribunal.
The hearing has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27 — that’s when the defendants will be questioned.