Overview
- Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero announced he will refrain from public ministry after news reports said at least five women have accused him of unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate behaviour.
- López Romero denies assault and has told reporters he committed no violence or sexual harassment and that he will fully cooperate with the Church inquiry.
- AFP reviewed a written complaint sent in May to the Vatican nunciature in Morocco in which one woman described ‘‘particularly insistent and prolonged hugs’’ and an attempted kiss she said she barely avoided.
- An Archdiocese source told journalists that multiple similar accounts have been brought to Church authorities and described a culture of complicity around the cardinal dating back to his missionary work.
- No criminal charges have been filed in Morocco so far but a Moroccan lawyer quoted in coverage said the alleged acts could meet the threshold for aggravated sexual harassment or assault when committed by someone in authority, and the case poses a reputational test for Church leadership.