Spanish priest abuses a teenager

On November 24, the 35-year-old Spanish priest, Iván Merino Padial, was arrested after being found abusing of a 12 year old child in his car. The events occurred behind a school in Venezuela. The case is in the hands of the Public Prosecutor's Office 32 regarding the Protection of Children and Adolescents.

Priest Iván Merino arrested in Venezuela.

The archbishop of Maracaibo (Venezuela), José Luis Azuaje, asked for forgiveness and condemned the abuse perpetrated by Father Merino.

On the other hand, the Province of Santo Tomas de Villanueva de los Agustinos, issued a statement from Madrid in which they reprove and condemn the actions of Father Merino to be suspended from his ministry.

In a statement issued 4 days later, on November 28, the priest and the archbishop asked for forgiveness from the minor and the family members. According to a priest Merino`s statement, he became attached to the girl and she to him also, so they were having contact by social networks. In addition, he argued that he knew the mother of the child but that she did not know he was with his daughter.

So far the case is in court, because it is not known if the priest tells the truth or if he really abused the child because she said she had suffered from such abuse for at least 3 years. The Prosecutor's Office will p

robably charge him with the crime of continued sexual abuse, which has a consequence between 4 and 10 years in prison.

by: MACS

Bibliography

https://www.eldiario.es/andalucia/granada/Pederastia-cura-Granada-Venezuela-Iglesia_0_840617034.html

https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/arrestan-a-sacerdote-por-abuso-de-nina-y-arquidiocesis-se-pronuncia-45218

Image taken from:

https://peru21.pe/mundo/indignante-sacerdote-abuso-sexualmente-nina-encarino-video-443577