Overview
- Peru’s episcopal conference confirmed that Antonio Santarsiero asked to leave his role as secretary general to help clarify a complaint of sexual abuse and psychological harm.
- A former seminarian identified as D. alleges repeated groping and coercive behavior in the Huacho seminary mainly in 2011–2013, with a dossier reported sent to the papal nuncio and the Vatican’s doctrine office.
- Santarsiero denies the claims and says he has not received an official notice of a case, while Huacho’s presbytery issued a statement rejecting the accusations and backing the bishop.
- The conference says it is following set procedures under church and civil rules and points possible victims to “Vos estis lux mundi,” a papal decree that created clear channels to report abuse.
- News outlets report no public sign yet of a formal Vatican probe or a criminal filing in Peru, which means any next step would likely come through the nuncio or the Vatican office that handles abuse cases.