Overview
- The Holy See’s tribunal for grave crimes rejected Damián Rodríguez Alcobendas’ final appeal and confirmed his culpability for a canonical offense involving sexual abuse of a minor.
- The sanctions include a perpetual ban on any ecclesiastical office or leadership role, a prohibition on teaching or pastoral instruction, and a bar on tutoring or advising minors in any Church setting.
- He is also prohibited from publicly exercising the priestly ministry for five years, with noncompliance subject to dismissal from the clerical state.
- Reports state the alleged abuse occurred in 2003–2004, was reported to Church authorities about two decades later, and took place in the priest’s private life rather than at schools where he served.
- Parallel criminal proceedings reportedly did not advance because the claims had prescribed, while the priest—known as “Padre Damián”—had previously been reassigned after gaining notoriety in 2020 for 4x4 street blessings in Nordelta.