Sodality Lay Movement (SCV) is Dissolved by Pope Francis Due to Abuse and Announces Reparations to 83 Victims
The Sodality of Christian Life or Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) issued a statement as Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda announced its dissolution to its members gathered at the general assembly in Aparecida, Brazil.The SCV was founded in Lima, Peru, in 1971 and is also located in Italy, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador. It was a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right and was founded by Luis Fernando Figari. In October 2024, Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, the Archbishop of Lima, called for the Sodalitium to be suppressed. After an investigation Pope Francis dissolved the society on 20 January 2025. In August 2024, Pope Francis expelled founder Luis Figari after it was found that he engaged in abuse and financial corruption. On Jan. 22, the SCV announced reparations to 83 victims:
Release on the Dissolution of the SCV:
On January 18 of this year, the website «Infovaticana» published the news that the Holy Father had dissolved our society of apostolic life. The main information about the event was true, but it contained several inaccuracies.
The Assembly was aware of this news item and given the seriousness of the events, and the first act of the day was to urge those responsible to take responsibility for the absurdity of having leaked information of an absolutely confidential nature.
Two Sodalits admitted to having violated the reservations of the case and, after asking for forgiveness from those present, were definitively expelled from the Assembly.
We regret that the misconduct of these two members could have been exploited by the press to raise doubts about whether it was Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, Pontifical Delegate of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSA), who leaked the news.
The Assembly recognizes as its own only the news from its official communications, therefore, the Assembly disassociates itself from any other news that has come out or will come out of the press related to the Assembly, to the Sodalitium, to the Holy Father, in whom we trust and whom we obey, to Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu Farnós and to Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ.
SCV Release on Reparations to Victims:
The Sodalitium of Christian Life wishes to make public the following report on the reparations it has made until December 2024 in favor of people who have been victims of some type of abuse.
With this report, the members of Sodalitium, with the pain and shame of the damage they have caused to specific people and their families, reiterate our request for forgiveness from all those who have suffered as a result of these actions.
In presenting it, we would like to highlight the following:
1) In the spirit of justice and reparation for the abuses committed by some members of our community, for nearly 9 years, the SCV created the Office of Listening and Assistance in May 2016.
2) This office, which has had the direction and participation of independent professionals who are experts in reparation itineraries, has listened to, investigated and carried out 83 reparation processes, all of them through out-of-court agreements.
3) The types of support have been carried out through financial compensation, payment of therapeutic and academic aid.
4) The repairs carried out have reached the sum of USD 5,348,000.
5) Among the wounds that have been sought to be repaired are those caused by sexual abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, abuse or misuse of authority, any breach of the internal code of conduct, among others.
We wish to provide the Church authorities, the spiritual family and the general public with accurate information about the actions that have been carried out by our institution.
Aparecida, January 21, 2025
You can download the full report here .
The Assembly was aware of this news item and given the seriousness of the events, and the first act of the day was to urge those responsible to take responsibility for the absurdity of having leaked information of an absolutely confidential nature.
Two Sodalits admitted to having violated the reservations of the case and, after asking for forgiveness from those present, were definitively expelled from the Assembly.
We regret that the misconduct of these two members could have been exploited by the press to raise doubts about whether it was Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, Pontifical Delegate of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSA), who leaked the news.
The Assembly recognizes as its own only the news from its official communications, therefore, the Assembly disassociates itself from any other news that has come out or will come out of the press related to the Assembly, to the Sodalitium, to the Holy Father, in whom we trust and whom we obey, to Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu Farnós and to Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ.
SCV Release on Reparations to Victims:
The Sodalitium of Christian Life wishes to make public the following report on the reparations it has made until December 2024 in favor of people who have been victims of some type of abuse.
With this report, the members of Sodalitium, with the pain and shame of the damage they have caused to specific people and their families, reiterate our request for forgiveness from all those who have suffered as a result of these actions.
In presenting it, we would like to highlight the following:
1) In the spirit of justice and reparation for the abuses committed by some members of our community, for nearly 9 years, the SCV created the Office of Listening and Assistance in May 2016.
2) This office, which has had the direction and participation of independent professionals who are experts in reparation itineraries, has listened to, investigated and carried out 83 reparation processes, all of them through out-of-court agreements.
3) The types of support have been carried out through financial compensation, payment of therapeutic and academic aid.
4) The repairs carried out have reached the sum of USD 5,348,000.
5) Among the wounds that have been sought to be repaired are those caused by sexual abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, abuse or misuse of authority, any breach of the internal code of conduct, among others.
We wish to provide the Church authorities, the spiritual family and the general public with accurate information about the actions that have been carried out by our institution.
Aparecida, January 21, 2025
You can download the full report here .
Sources: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-sodalitium-peru-abuse-figari-04642fa1e9a3c00213430c07a5747cce
https://sodalitium.org/
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