On September 15, 2026, in Rome, the pontifical delegates of the IVE and of the Servants of the Lord and of Our Lady of Matará held a meeting with the provincial superiors of both institutes and with the heads of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
During that meeting, information was provided on the decisions taken to make public the decision of the special criminal courts that examined Buela’s case in the first instance and on appeal.
“At both levels of trial, he was found guilty of an offence against the sixth Commandment committed with violence against a number of persons.”
The statement has particular relevance because it does not come from a media outlet, from former members of the Institute or from a victims’ organization, but from the Vatican itself. That it would make clear, once and for all and in a public way, what the Institute of the Incarnate Word has always falsified about its founder, telling the young members that it was all a slander of a single unbalanced person.
This statement reflects, once again, the manipulation and concealment of information that the Institute of the Incarnate Word carried out for years from its members.
The statement also expressly recognizes the people harmed by Buela’s behavior and links this clarification to the process of review, renewal and purification of the spirituality, formation and apostolate of both institutes.
The publication puts an end to any possible ambiguity about the outcome of the canonical processes: Carlos Miguel Buela was found guilty in the first instance and that guilt was confirmed on appeal in the second instance. The authority that currently governs the Institute now publicly acknowledges this in that statement.
In addition, measures are being taken regarding a profound reform of the Constitutions. We will soon publish an article on this subject.
The members of the Institute of the Incarnate Word have received this statement and have been sending it to their members, although the Church should officially publish it in the coming days.
The full text of the statement
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE FOUNDER
On Monday, September 14, 2026, the Pontifical Delegates for the Institute of the Incarnate Word and for the Servants of the Lord and of Our Lady of Matará held a meeting in Rome with the Provincial Superiors of both institutes, in which some leaders of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life also participated.
During the meeting, information was provided on the decisions taken by the Special Criminal Tribunals, of first instance and of appeal, competent in the canonical process against Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela, Founder of the two institutes. At both levels of trial, he was found guilty of a crime against the Sixth Commandment committed with violence against several persons (cf. can. 1395, § 2).
This clarification is intended to contribute to the re-establishment of the truth as an act of justice towards those who have been harmed by the behavior of Father Carlos Miguel Buela, as well as to the due information of the members of both Institutes, to the path of re-reading the charism and of reviewing, renewing and purifying the spirituality, formation and apostolate proper to each Institute, distinguishing between the gift of the Spirit granted for the edification of the Church and the limitations or personal actions of the Founder.
Sr. Clara Echarte Oñate, FI
Pontifical Delegate SSVM
† José Antonio Satué Huerto
Pontifical Delegate IVE
Sr. Simona Brambilla, M.C.
Prefect
Leave a Reply