Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 6 February 2020

Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in the Pope
Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.
Associated Press

Pope defrocks founder

of another Latin

America-based order European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi talks to journalists
during a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday,
Feb. 5, 2020.
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) — An- a presence in Argentina,
other founder of a Catho- Italy, Mexico and in the
lic religious movement has U.S. dioceses of Detroit and EU focuses on Balkans for
been defrocked for sexual San Diego, according to its
said its members had de- enlargement after Brexit
misconduct and abusing website.
his power, the latest in a In a statement, Miles Christi
string of purportedly or-
thodox, charismatic priests nounced Yannuzzi's abuse
who turned out to be pred- and "irregularities" starting BRUSSELS (AP) — Down one sage" to North Macedonia nia and North Macedonia
ators. in 2016. country with the departure and Albania, who were can be found in March.
Pope Francis defrocked "All the religious and au- of Britain, the European both desperately disap- The bloc also has a major
the Argentine priest, Rober- thorities of Miles Christi Union's executive proposed pointed when their hopes Western Balkans summit
to Juan Yannuzzi, after a deeply regret the acts a new system for adding for the swift commence- planned for May.
four-year investigation de- committed by their former members in a move made ment of accession nego- There are worries that if the
termined he had sex with superior general and from all the more urgent by tiations were rebuffed in EU doesn't open its arms,
adults under his authority, the outset have accompa- French objections to open October. then several countries in
absolved them of the sin nied and continue to ac- enlargement talks with two And perhaps crucially, the strategically important
during confession and oth- company those who were Western Balkan nations. France acknowledged that Balkan region could pivot
erwise abused his power. affected, providing them The European Commission the proposal was good, "a instead to Russia and Chi-
The pope's decision was with all the material and hopes the streamlined rules significant change, a big na. For a bloc that's just lost
made public this week in spiritual assistance neces- will avoid further delaying step in the right direction." the diplomatic and geopo-
a statement by the arch- sary to cope with this pain- the start of accession ne- "This is a major element that litical clout of Britain, that
bishop of La Plata, Argenti- ful situation," the group said gotiations when aspiring allows positions to move — could be a hard pill to swal-
na, where Yannuzzi in 1994 in a statement. members to what is now not only France's position," low. "EU enlargement is a
founded the Miles Christi Defrocking, or dismissal the 27-country bloc have said a top official at the WIN-WIN situation," von der
community. The name is from the clerical state, is met the conditions for such French presidency, who Leyen said in a tweet.
Latin for "Soldier of Christ." the most severe sanction talks. asked not to be identified Enlargement is especially
The movement is a reli- the Vatican can impose European Commission in accordance with Elysee contentious in some capi-
gious order of priests, reli- on a priest. It is usually re- President Ursula von der customary practices. tals in the EU over such is-
gious brothers, consecrat- served for priests who sexu- Leyen said Wednesday the The EU is hoping that a sues as corruption and the
ed women and laity with ally abuse minors. q proposal was a "good mes- breakthrough for Alba- rule of law. q

Finland plans to give dads equal parental leave as mothers

JARI TANNER Nordic country would be family can maintain its in- leave allowance quota for all the coalition parties are
HELSINKI (AP) — Finland's extended to nearly seven come levels for 14 months, both parents. led by women, four of them
female-dominated gov- months and on a par with up from the current 11.5 The social reform is a key- aged under 35.
ernment unveiled a plan what mothers get. months. Parents can also stone measure of the new The changes are set to
Wednesday to give both "The reform will be a ma- transfer 69 days from their center-left government come into force next year
parents the same amount jor change in attitudes, as own quota to the other led by Prime Minister San- at the earliest. The cost of
of fully paid parental leave it will improve equality be- parent. na Marin. At 34, she is the the changes are estimated
in an effort to push dads in tween parents and make In addition, a separate youngest female prime at 100 million euros ($110
to take time off from work the lives of diverse families pregnancy allowance minister in the world. Her million).
to spend more time with easier," Pekonen said in a would entitle women to a five-party coalition govern- "The reform will support all
their children. statement. month of paid pregnancy ment has gender equality kinds of families and ensure
Social affairs minister Anna- Because the parents don't leave before the expect- high on its agenda. Twelve equal leaves for children
Kaisa Pekonen said paterni- have to take their leaves ed date of birth. A single of the 19 members of the regardless of the form of
ty leave with full pay in the at the same time, then a parent could use the paid Cabinet are female, and the family," Pekonen said.q