Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
1975-2002 · 27 years · show in timeline

Peru, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, abuse by the founder and leadership, dissolved by the Vatican in 2025

According to reports by Vatican News, the Catholic community Sodalitium Christianae Vitae ("Sodalicio"), founded in Peru and one of the most active in Latin America, was placed under supervision because of physical, psychological and sexual violence by its founder and leadership, including against minors, and because of financial irregularities. An internal report counted acts between 1975 and 2002 against about 36 people, including 19 minors. In 2024 the founder was expelled, and on 14 April 2025 the community was dissolved.

Period
1975-2002 (27 years)
Country
Peru
Institutions
Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodalicio)
Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life
Category
Financial misconduct, Violence, Sexual abuse
Level of evidence
A Primary source · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

Who was affected? Victims and numbers

  1. An investigative group of the community itself established acts between 1975 and 2002 against about 36 people, including 19 minors; the perpetrators were removed from the community.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru
    „committed between 1975 and 2002 against about 36 people, including 19 minors“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru. Original

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. After an investigation by the papal envoys Charles Scicluna and Jordi Bertomeu in 2023, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life expelled the founder in August 2024. On 14 April 2025 the community was dissolved by decree.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Papal Envoys
    „In July 2023, Pope Francis sent two special investigators to the Andean country to “investigate, listen, and report” on the case of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Abschnitt Papal Envoys. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Einleitung
    „was suppressed by means of a decree signed on 14 April 2025, following the scandal of abuse and corruption alleged against some of its leaders“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Einleitung. Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. The founder is accused of physical, psychological and sexual violence, including against minors. Former members described mistreatment, humiliation and abuse, above all of younger members of the communities.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Einleitung
    „is accused of physical, psychological, and sexual violence, including against minors“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Einleitung. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Background
    „complaints from former members triggered investigations and media reports about abuse, humiliation, and mistreatment mainly of younger members of the “sodalities.”“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Abschnitt Background. Original

Background

Who received the assets, who profited?

  1. The community was placed under supervision because of abuse cases and financial mismanagement by its leadership; a papal commissioner remained responsible above all for the finances.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Einleitung
    „The movement had previously been placed under supervision due to cases of abuse and financial mismanagement by its leaders.“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Einleitung. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru
    „later remained as “referent,” particularly for financial matters“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru. Original

Response of the Church

  1. The first allegations arose in the early 2000s. The case became public in 2015 through a book with testimonies of the victims published by the journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz; both later reported lawsuits and attacks against them because of their work. In 2018 the Vatican forbade the founder to return to Peru, out of concern that he might destroy evidence or obstruct justice.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Background
    „In 2015, journalists Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz published a book of testimonies of the victims.“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Abschnitt Background. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Background
    „who recounted the legal complaints and attacks, especially via social media, they had received because of their work“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Abschnitt Background. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru
    „“hide and destroy evidence against him,” or “obstruct the course of ecclesiastical and civil justice.”“
    Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, Abschnitt Ban on returning to Peru. Original
  2. When it was dissolved, the community asked the victims for forgiveness for mistreatment and abuse and referred to reparation since May 2016, including therapy and financial compensation.
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Grief and obedience
    „including academic support, therapy, and financial compensation“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Abschnitt Grief and obedience. Original
    Evidence: Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio, Abschnitt Grief and obedience
    „forgiveness for the mistreatment and abuse committed in our community“
    Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, Abschnitt Grief and obedience. Original

Original documents to read

  1. Church document
    Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio: Vatican expels founder of Peru’s Sodalitium religious movement, 16 August 2024. Original (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
  2. Church document
    Vatican News (Dikasterium für Kommunikation des Heiligen Stuhls), Salvatore Cernuzio: Vatican suppresses Sodality of Christian Life, 15 April 2025. Original (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.