Complaint

Priest arrested for alleged child sexual abuse in Mexico City #Catholic The Mexico City attorney generalʼs office announced the arrest of a priest from the Archdiocese of Mexico accused of aggravated child sexual abuse against a 17-year-old girl and stated that a judge has already initiated criminal proceedings against him.TweetIn a statement issued July 15, the attorney general’s office noted that the complaint was filed June 4 by the teenagerʼs mother, who had discovered “conversations with sexual content with a contact identified as ‘Winnie Poo’” on her daughterʼs mobile phone earlier this year.According to the attorney general’s office, the teenager reportedly stated that the contact in question was a priest identified as Enrique “N,” who allegedly “forced her to engage in sexual acts on four occasions.”Following the initial inquiries, a supervisory judge ordered the priest to be held in pretrial detention and set a two-month deadline for the conclusion of the supplementary investigation.Archdiocese initiates canonical investigationThe Archdiocese of Mexico announced in a statement dated July 15 that archbishop Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes had ordered the initiation of an investigation “in accordance with canon law and the procedures established by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”The statement expressed its “support for the minor victim, her family, and anyone who may have been a victim of any form of abuse” and reiterated its commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, “as well as to providing respectful support to those who have suffered any form of violence.”The archdiocese also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, it “will avoid making premature judgments” and “will refrain from revealing the priest’s identity while the competent authorities carry out the necessary proceedings.”Finally, the archdiocese urged anyone aware of a possible case of sexual abuse committed by an ordained minister to report it either by phone or email and provided the contact information.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Priest arrested for alleged child sexual abuse in Mexico City #Catholic The Mexico City attorney generalʼs office announced the arrest of a priest from the Archdiocese of Mexico accused of aggravated child sexual abuse against a 17-year-old girl and stated that a judge has already initiated criminal proceedings against him.TweetIn a statement issued July 15, the attorney general’s office noted that the complaint was filed June 4 by the teenagerʼs mother, who had discovered “conversations with sexual content with a contact identified as ‘Winnie Poo’” on her daughterʼs mobile phone earlier this year.According to the attorney general’s office, the teenager reportedly stated that the contact in question was a priest identified as Enrique “N,” who allegedly “forced her to engage in sexual acts on four occasions.”Following the initial inquiries, a supervisory judge ordered the priest to be held in pretrial detention and set a two-month deadline for the conclusion of the supplementary investigation.Archdiocese initiates canonical investigationThe Archdiocese of Mexico announced in a statement dated July 15 that archbishop Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes had ordered the initiation of an investigation “in accordance with canon law and the procedures established by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”The statement expressed its “support for the minor victim, her family, and anyone who may have been a victim of any form of abuse” and reiterated its commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, “as well as to providing respectful support to those who have suffered any form of violence.”The archdiocese also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, it “will avoid making premature judgments” and “will refrain from revealing the priest’s identity while the competent authorities carry out the necessary proceedings.”Finally, the archdiocese urged anyone aware of a possible case of sexual abuse committed by an ordained minister to report it either by phone or email and provided the contact information.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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A priest identified as Enrique “N” has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl based on a preliminary investigation. The Archdiocese of Mexico has initiated a canonical investigation.

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Philippine court dismisses case against bishop involved in mining dispute #Catholic A court in the northern Philippines has dismissed a forcible entry case against a Catholic bishop, a priest, and several community leaders involved in a dispute over a mining exploration project in Nueva Vizcaya province.Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong welcomed the June 24 ruling, which dismissed a complaint linked to barricades established by residents in Kasibu town against exploration activities by North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC).“This outcome is not only a legal victory. It is a victory for truth, justice, and the collective efforts of communities who courageously stand to protect our land, water, and future generations,” Mangalinao said in a statement.The complaint named Mangalinao, Father Christian Dumangeng, and several community leaders allegedly involved in maintaining the barricades. The case drew national attention after a Catholic bishop and priest were included among the defendants.The dispute stems from opposition to a 4,456-hectare (11,011 acres) mining exploration project being undertaken by NLMRC in several villages in Kasibu, a municipality in Nueva Vizcaya, a mountainous province on the island of Luzon north of Manila.Residents, church groups, and some Indigenous leaders have raised concerns about the project’s potential effects on watersheds, local livelihoods, and nearby communities.Residents established barricades in May to block the movement of fuel, equipment, and mineral samples linked to NLMRC’s exploration activities, according to community groups.The complaint was filed by Rosario Camma, who identified himself as the overall chieftain of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous Cultural Communities. Some members of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous communities have joined opposition to the project, citing concerns about its possible effects on their communities and surrounding resources.In a nine-page decision obtained by EWTN News, the local court said the plaintiff failed to establish a clear legal right warranting injunctive relief and ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the action. The court found that the relief sought was more consistent with an injunction case than a forcible entry action.The decision also cited a certification from the Philippine government’s Indigenous affairs agency stating that the exploration permit area falls outside officially recognized ancestral domain lands. Opponents of the project, however, have argued that the controversy extends beyond ancestral domain claims and includes concerns over environmental impacts and consultation requirements.The court further held that the complaint sought to stop activities related to the barricades rather than recover possession of property, a key element in forcible entry cases.Mangalinao has defended his involvement in the issue, saying his presence at the barricades was part of his pastoral responsibility. Earlier this week, he said he visited the communities to celebrate Mass and accompany residents concerned about the future of their land and water sources.“I went as their bishop to offer the Holy Mass, to pray with them, and to remind them that their concern for the land, the water, and their children’s future is one the Church shares and blesses,” he said.In his homily on June 21, the prelate said the dispute is an issue of environmental stewardship and concern for communities affected by development projects.“I could have chosen not to speak up, but if I do not speak up, my sin would be great before God,” he said.The bishop said the ruling would strengthen continuing efforts to defend the environment and communities affected by extractive projects.“Let this moment remind us that defending our watersheds, our environment, and our people’s livelihood is not a crime: it is a shared moral responsibility,” he said.“We believe, as the Church has always taught, that the earth is not ours to exhaust but ours to steward,” he added.
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Philippine court dismisses case against bishop involved in mining dispute #Catholic A court in the northern Philippines has dismissed a forcible entry case against a Catholic bishop, a priest, and several community leaders involved in a dispute over a mining exploration project in Nueva Vizcaya province.Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong welcomed the June 24 ruling, which dismissed a complaint linked to barricades established by residents in Kasibu town against exploration activities by North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC).“This outcome is not only a legal victory. It is a victory for truth, justice, and the collective efforts of communities who courageously stand to protect our land, water, and future generations,” Mangalinao said in a statement.The complaint named Mangalinao, Father Christian Dumangeng, and several community leaders allegedly involved in maintaining the barricades. The case drew national attention after a Catholic bishop and priest were included among the defendants.The dispute stems from opposition to a 4,456-hectare (11,011 acres) mining exploration project being undertaken by NLMRC in several villages in Kasibu, a municipality in Nueva Vizcaya, a mountainous province on the island of Luzon north of Manila.Residents, church groups, and some Indigenous leaders have raised concerns about the project’s potential effects on watersheds, local livelihoods, and nearby communities.Residents established barricades in May to block the movement of fuel, equipment, and mineral samples linked to NLMRC’s exploration activities, according to community groups.The complaint was filed by Rosario Camma, who identified himself as the overall chieftain of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous Cultural Communities. Some members of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous communities have joined opposition to the project, citing concerns about its possible effects on their communities and surrounding resources.In a nine-page decision obtained by EWTN News, the local court said the plaintiff failed to establish a clear legal right warranting injunctive relief and ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the action. The court found that the relief sought was more consistent with an injunction case than a forcible entry action.The decision also cited a certification from the Philippine government’s Indigenous affairs agency stating that the exploration permit area falls outside officially recognized ancestral domain lands. Opponents of the project, however, have argued that the controversy extends beyond ancestral domain claims and includes concerns over environmental impacts and consultation requirements.The court further held that the complaint sought to stop activities related to the barricades rather than recover possession of property, a key element in forcible entry cases.Mangalinao has defended his involvement in the issue, saying his presence at the barricades was part of his pastoral responsibility. Earlier this week, he said he visited the communities to celebrate Mass and accompany residents concerned about the future of their land and water sources.“I went as their bishop to offer the Holy Mass, to pray with them, and to remind them that their concern for the land, the water, and their children’s future is one the Church shares and blesses,” he said.In his homily on June 21, the prelate said the dispute is an issue of environmental stewardship and concern for communities affected by development projects.“I could have chosen not to speak up, but if I do not speak up, my sin would be great before God,” he said.The bishop said the ruling would strengthen continuing efforts to defend the environment and communities affected by extractive projects.“Let this moment remind us that defending our watersheds, our environment, and our people’s livelihood is not a crime: it is a shared moral responsibility,” he said.“We believe, as the Church has always taught, that the earth is not ours to exhaust but ours to steward,” he added.

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Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong welcomed the June 24 ruling, which dismissed a complaint against him, another priest, and community leaders related to a mining exploration project.

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