Pope Francis has expelled ten men from the scandal-plagued Sodalitium Christianae Vitae movement in Peru following allegations of physical abuse and other mistreatments.
The ten men, including a retired archbishop, several priests, and laypersons, are accused of sadism, violence, abuse of authority, and employing “cult-like methods.”
The ultraconservative Catholic educational organisation was established as a response to the Marxist-inspired liberation theology that gained popularity in Latin America from the 1960s.
Children and young people are believed to have endured years of abuse within the group, with the first accusations dating back to 2000. The founder, Luis Fernando Figari, was expelled from the group by Pope Francis last month.
In a statement, the Pope and the Peruvian Conference of Bishops expressed regret over the abuse, asked the victims for forgiveness, and urged the organisation to pursue a path of justice and reparation.
