By Trend News Line 2024-06-20 08:10:00.
The Shocking Revelations of Father Roma’s Abuse
In a disturbing turn of events, Spanish Jesuit Father Luis María Roma has been exposed for his horrifying acts of abuse against hundreds of Indigenous girls while serving as a missionary in rural Bolivia. The atrocities committed by Father Roma were documented in a diary, where he detailed luring young girls to a river and engaging in inappropriate behaviour, including taking photographs. These heinous acts were known to the Society of Jesus since at least 2019, but were not immediately reported to civil authorities.
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The Dark Confession and Tragic End of Father Roma
Father Roma passed away in August 2019, shortly before a report detailing his abusive behaviour was completed. A notarized confession signed by Father Roma in May 2019 revealed his admission of guilt, stating, “I got carried away, in some situations, by libidinous acts, inappropriate for a religious person, with girls from eight to 11 years old.” The Jesuits expressed deep regret for the mishandling of the complaints of sexual abuse and called for those responsible to be held accountable for their negligence.
A Pattern of Abuse and Cover-Up
The revelations of Father Roma’s documented depravity have shed light on a wider scandal of clerical sexual abuse within the Jesuit order in Bolivia. This is not the first instance of such despicable behaviour coming to light, as in 2023, the diary of another Spanish Jesuit, Father Alfonso Pedrajas, was exposed, detailing abuse against at least 85 victims. The cover-up of these crimes by Jesuit superiors has further deepened the scandal and outraged the community.
Father Roma’s Troubled Past and Modus Operandi
Father Roma, born in Barcelona, Spain in 1935, joined the Jesuits at a young age and was sent to Bolivia to serve as a missionary. He worked as a teacher and supervisor in Jesuit schools, eventually becoming vice provincial at the Jesuit curia in La Paz. It was during this time that signs of predatory behaviour began to emerge, with Father Roma regularly abusing girls in an Indigenous village he frequented.
The Devastating Impact on Victims and Community
Father Roma’s abuse spanned from 1994 to 2001, during his time as a missionary in Charagua, an Indigenous Guaraní community in southeastern Bolivia. He lured children with gifts or candy, taking advantage of their innocence to commit heinous acts and document them through photographs and videos. The diversion of funds meant for Jesuit projects to facilitate his crimes further exacerbated the impact on the victims and community.
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A Call for Justice and Accountability
The victims of Father Roma’s abuse have bravely come forward, shedding light on the dark secrets that were hidden for so long. The Jesuits have called for prosecutors to reopen the case and hold accountable those who knew of the abuse and failed to act. The tragic legacy of Father Roma serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable in our society and ensuring that those who commit such atrocities are brought to justice..
Deceased Spanish Jesuit accused of abusing Indigenous girls
Spanish Jesuit accused of abusing Indigenous girls.
