Vatican requests indictment of former seminarian on sex abuse charges

Source: Vatican News

The Promoter of Justice of the Vatican State Tribunal, have requested the indictment of former seminarian Don Gabriele Martinelli, on charges of sexual abuse that would have taken place in the Pre Seminary San Pio X in years before 2012 , and of Don Enrico Radice, rector of the Pre Seminary on charges of aiding and abetting.

In a statement issued last night, the Vatican press office said investigations were started in November 2017 following reports of the allegations in the press.

It said: "the facts go back to the years in which the law in force at the time prevented the judicial process in the absence of a charge brought by the offended person that had to be presented within one year of the contested facts...

...the sending for trial was made possible by virtue of a special provision of the Holy Father on 29 July, that removed the cause of not proceeding."

Martinelli is now 28.