Recently, a serious case involving Father Antony del Castillo, a priest belonging to the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), has come to light. According to various sources, Castillo’s father would have had sexual relations with an 18-year-old girl, in circumstances that point to a possible exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
The sexual relations would have occurred in the context of the summer oratory, organized by the congregation of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará in Jonzac (Diocese of La Rochelle, in France), where the reported events took place.
A particularly delicate aspect is that the young woman involved is a relative of several priests and religious of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, which further complicates the internal dynamics and the possible repercussions on the ecclesial community.
After the revelation of this incident, the Institute of the Incarnate Word decided to evacuate Father Antony del Castillo to Peru (where he is from), falsely claiming “health reasons” to remove him from the original context and manage the internal situation of the congregation.
The Church must open a thorough and independent investigation into this case. An act of such disinhibition and shamelessness makes us think that it is not an isolated event, but that there could be antecedents that have not been reported or adequately addressed. Transparency and fairness are critical to restoring trust in church institutions and protecting the most vulnerable.
For now, the ecclesiastical and civil authorities have not issued official statements, and it is unknown if any formal investigation has been initiated. However, the seriousness of the facts demands a clear and forceful response.
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