Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 4 March 2020
Mexican clerical abuse victims skeptical of Vatican mission

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Vic- tion from some other ex-
tims of clerical sex abuse ternal authority to deter-
have expressed skepticism mine criminal responsibil-
over a Vatican investiga- ity because if it is only the
tive commission that will ecclesiastic commission,
collect statements and in- it's very difficult for some-
formation about abuse in thing to happen,"said Al-
Mexico, though most said berto Athié, a former Mexi-
they would meet with Pope can priest who has cam-
Francis' investigators. paigned for more than 20
"Only by speaking with years for victims of clerical
them can you demand abuse. If not, the commis-
results," said Biani López- sion could become just
Antúnez, who was abused another example of the
by a Legion of Christ school Vatican going through the
director in Cancun be- motions but not getting to
tween the ages of 8 and 10 the bottom of it.
years old. "The results of this For that reason, Athié be-
visit must be measured only lieves a proposal before
based on the facts, the re- the Mexican Senate to
ports, because I'm already create an independent in-
tired of the fake action that vestigative commission is
operates at all levels of the Archbishop Charles Scicluna, left, and Spanish Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu attend a meeting with critical, because it could
Church." the Catholic community at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Osorno, Chile, in this Saturday, "reconstruct the truth and
The Vatican announced June 16, 2018 file photo. turn over to the proper au-
Tuesday that two investi- Associated Press thorities all of those respon-
gators — Charles Sciclu- sible," including the abusers
na, archbishop of Malta to speak with them. They López-Antúnez are speak- same church officials who and those who covered up
and deputy secretary for promise confidentiality. ing up in the face of Vati- went to Chile in 2018 to in- their actions.
the Congregation for the Mexico, which has the can claims of "zero toler- vestigate one case and re- The number of victims in
Doctrine of the Faith and second highest number ance" to say that they are turned with 2,600 pages of Mexico is unknown.
Jordi Bertomeu — will be in of Catholics in the world, still waiting for justice. statements from more than The best known case in
Mexico City March 20-27. has been accumulating The Mexican Episcopal 60 victims. It led Pope Fran- Mexico is that of Rev. Mar-
They will meet with bish- cases of abuse and cover- Conference says the com- cis to ask forgiveness and cial Maciel, founder of the
ops, leaders of religious or- ups for years. Meanwhile mission is coming at its re- led to legal action. Legion of Christ religious or-
ders and victims who want more and more victims like quest. It is made up by the "There has to be interven- der. q

Venezuelan official denies threat to Guaidó as a 'lie'

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) by the opposition in an at- dent Donald Trump, who
— A powerful ally of Ven- tempt to trick Guaidó fol- invited Guaidó as a special
ezuelan President Nicolás lowers into thinking his life is guest to his annual State of
Maduro on Monday denied in danger. the Union address.
any type of armed threats "He're an alleged gunman, The incident was widely
against U.S.-backed oppo- an armed man," Cabello condemned in the inter-
sition leader Juan Guaidó said, holding up a copy national community by the
as shown in a widely circu- of the photo. "Everyone is European Union, the Orga-
lated photograph. calm... and Guaidó keeps nization of American States
The image taken by a on talking." and the Lima Group, which
member of Guaidó's press Cabello said that the boy integrates a dozen coun-
team depicts an armed was injured a long distance tries in the region to find a
man in street clothes and from Guaidó, dismissing it way out of the Venezuelan
a motorcycle helmet point- as an unrelated incident. crisis.
ing a pistol at a group of According to opposition Guaidó has called for a
people led by Guaidó dur- leaders interviewed by The In this photo released by the Juan Guaido's Press Office, an un- demonstration on March
ing a Saturday street rally. Associated Press on Sat- identified man aims a gun at a crowd as opposition leader Juan 10, when the opposition will
Guaido, center right in light blue shirt, meets with supporters dur-
Opposition leaders march- urday, about 200 armed ing a rally in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. attempt to retake control
ing with Guaidó said that civilians and government Associated Press of their legislative building
socialist hardliners loyal to security forces ambushed in the center of Caracas.
Maduro also opened fire to marchers led by Guaidó. the AP by the opposition ing Maduro's re-election in Armed civilians and secu-
intimidate opposition sup- They said several others leader's team. 2018 in a race the opposi- rity forces have forcefully
porters at the event in the were roughed up as the The confusing incident tion says was marred by ir- blocked opposition law-
central city of Barquisimeto, Maduro loyalists harassed is believed to be the first regularities. makers from entering the
injuring a 16-year-old boy participants. time pro-government vigi- It is was the first public trip building since January.
who was shot in the leg. The AP was not present at lantes known as colectivos Guaidó has taken outside Also Monday, Venezuelan
However, Maduro ally and the rally so was unable to have aimed a weapon at the capital of Caracas authorities said that they
socialist party boss Diosda- verify the account made Guaidó, who the U.S. and since returning from an arrested two managers of
do Cabello in a news con- by either side. The photo more than 50 other coun- international tour to rally the state-run oil firm PDVSA,
ference Monday called of the gunman aiming at tries recognize as Venezu- support, including a White accused of providing inter-
the photo a "lie" distributed Guaido was provided to ela's rightful leader follow- House meeting with Presi- nal information to the U.S.q