Chile Catholic church hit by abuse claims, bomb

Source: Associated Press

Apr 27, 7:28 PM EDT
Chile Catholic church hit by abuse claims, bomb
By FEDERICO QUILODRAN
Associated Press Writer

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Chile's Roman Catholic Church was shaken by a series of dramatic televised interviews of men alleging they were abused by a respected former priest, followed hours later by a bombing that damaged a church's facade.

Four men detailed their claims - which also are the subject of police and church investigations - on a state channel Monday night. Now adults, they said the alleged abuse by Father Fernando Karadima began about 20 years ago when they were between 14 and 17 years old, in his residence at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in an elegant neighborhood of Santiago.

Dr. James Hamilton, now a surgeon, said between sobs that the abuse began with an act of masturbation when he joined the priest's Catholic youth group and continued for years.

Three others, including seminarians who saw Karadima as their spiritual leader, made similar allegations.



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_CHILE_CHURCH_ABUSE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-04-27-19-28-10

..Church there. Only the latest in the abuse claims in South America.