An Italian Catholic priest is currently under house arrest following allegations of possessing child pornography, marking the second recent scandal to emerge from the northern Brescia diocese.
The 51-year-old clergyman was detained last week, according to his lawyer, Paolo Inverardi, who confirmed to AFP that police investigations are still underway.
While the diocese has suspended the priest from his duties, it clarified that no minors from the parish were directly involved in the case.
Due to the ongoing investigation, AFP has chosen not to disclose the priest’s identity.
Diocesan spokesman Adriano Bianchi stated in an official release: “The charge he will be called to answer concerns the possession of child pornography, a crime prosecuted by the judicial authorities and also by the Church.”
Bianchi emphasized that the well-being of parish minors had not been compromised.
“In no way are minors from the parish community involved, and there has been no inappropriate conduct on his part toward the people entrusted to him in pastoral care,” he said.
He added: “Any crime involving minors cannot in any way be underestimated, tolerated, and much less go unpunished, especially if it involves priests.”
The diocese assured the public of its full cooperation with law enforcement and confirmed that a canonical investigation would be initiated “at the appropriate time.”
Local media reports indicate that investigators discovered around 1,500 images and videos depicting child pornography on the priest’s mobile phone.
He served as a parish priest in Castelcovati, a town located west of Brescia.
This arrest comes only a month after another clergyman from the same diocese, 48-year-old Ciro Panigara, was apprehended over allegations of sexually abusing children aged 10 to 12 in two parishes between Milan and Verona.
Panigara’s sudden removal from his post had been announced earlier this year by the bishop, who informed the congregation that “serious situations (that) have arisen which require the immediate interruption of his experience” in the parish, as stated in a letter seen by AFP.
