With the firestorm continuing over abusive priests in Europe, the Christian Science Monitor examines how the situation is affecting Catholics in Latin Ameirca.
In Latin America, where 70 percent of residents are Catholic, some said the region will undoubtedly play a big role in the international church.
"The future of the global church really hinges on Latin America," said Andrew Chesnut from the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. "The Charismatic Renewal has revitalized the church in many Latin American countries, most notably Brazil, but sex- abuse scandals, which are only a matter of time, could easily result in further defections from the church."
Some in Latin America have supported the Vatican. The Latin American Episcopal Conference wrote wrote a "letter of solidarity" to the pope, according to the article, and Santiago's Archbishop condemned the criticism he's received.
In Latin America, abuse problems hit home with Marcial Maciel, a priest in Mexico who was accused of molesting minor seminarians and was ordered in 2006 to a life of "prayer and penance" by the pope.
NPR reports that bishops in Europe and Latin America do not generally turn priests into the police.
Read more here.
Source: Csmonitor.com, NPR
Photo:saintaquinas.com
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