Bolivia Launches Investigation into Priests in Child Abuse Cover-Up

Bolivia's top prosecutor has initiated an investigation into three Jesuit priests accused of covering up child abuse in La Paz. The priests allegedly concealed the 1961 rape by Archbishop Alejandro Mestre Descals. This probe follows claims against another priest, Luis Maria Roma, accused of abusing indigenous minors.

Bolivia's top prosecutor's office announced on Thursday the launch of an investigation into three Jesuit priests accused of covering up child abuse in the city of La Paz. This comes as the latest in a series of pedophilia scandals that have rocked the South American nation.

The investigation is focusing on priests who allegedly helped cover up the 1961 rape of a young boy by then-Archbishop of La Paz, Alejandro Mestre Descals. Prosecutors say Mestre raped the child at least twice.

Attorney General Juan Lanchipa Ponce named the three priests—Bernardo Mercado, Ignacio Suñol, and Osvaldo Chirveches—who are accused of remaining silent about the crime for decades. Their house arrest has been requested. This probe follows another case involving Spanish priest Luis Maria Roma, who targeted at least 100 indigenous minors in Charagua between 1994 and 2005. Despite being informed, church authorities took no action against Roma, who died in 2019. The Society of Jesus in Bolivia has since admitted failings after new evidence emerged.

(With inputs from agencies.)