Vatican expels founder of Peruvian religious group over abuse claims

ROME — The Vatican has expelled Luis Fernando Figari, the founder of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, following a lengthy period of allegations regarding sexual and psychological abuse, as well as financial misconduct. This decision, announced by the Vatican’s office for religious orders, comes after Pope Francis initiated a high-level investigation into the movement last year, prompted by previous commissions that failed to adequately address the group's issues. The decree emphasized that Figari's actions were “incompatible and therefore unacceptable” for a member of the church, causing significant harm to both the institution and its followers. The Sodalitium, which Figari established in 1971, once boasted around 20,000 members across South America and the United States. Allegations against Figari date back to 2000, with victims reporting abuse to the Lima archdiocese in 2011. An external investigation published in 2017 revealed disturbing details about Figari's behavior, describing him as manipulative and abusive, and detailing instances of sexual misconduct involving his recruits. Despite these findings, the Vatican had previously only mandated Figari to live apart from the community without expulsion. The recent expulsion is seen as a necessary step to restore justice and protect the faithful, according to the Vatican. The move also follows the resignation of Piura Archbishop José Eguren, a Sodalitium member, who faced scrutiny over his ties to the group. Critics view this as a validation of journalistic efforts to expose the church's failings and a potential pathway for reparations to victims of abuse.