After Defending Controversial Bishop, Pope To Send Sex Abuse Investigator To Chile
Pope Francis questioned survivors' accounts and defended a Chilean bishop accused of a coverup. But the Vatican announced Tuesday that a top envoy will now look into survivors' claims.
When Pope Francis visited Chile earlier this month, he lashed out at victims of sexual abuse and accused them of "calumny" regarding a bishop who is suspected of covering up abuse they endured by a pedophile priest.
The pope said there was "not a shred of evidence" against Chilean Bishop Juan Barros. "The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros," he said, "I'll speak."
Now the pope is sending a top envoy on a mission to Chile to look into survivors' claims.
A Vatican statement said Maltese Bishop Charles Scicluna, the Church's most
