Pope Francis dissolves South American Catholic group mired in scandal
ReutersJan 22
Pope Francis Dissolves Scandal-Plagued Peru Group
story
Above: Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square during his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican on Jan. 12, 2025. Image copyright: Alberto Pizzoli/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Peru-based Catholic movement Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, or Sodality of Christian Life, confirmed on Monday that Pope Francis had ordered its dissolution, though hasn't offered details about how the process will be carried out.
Spanish-language media outlet Infovaticana reported that Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda announced the suppression to the sodality's members during a general assembly in Aparecida, Brazil, on Saturday.
A papal decision to suppress a Catholic movement is rare, as popes have traditionally preferred to reform groups experiencing scandal, rather than dissolve them.
The Spin
Narrative A
Sodalitium Vitae Christianae has been nothing but a disgrace to the Catholic Church, abusing its well-intentioned rank-and-file members to promote its political agenda in Latin America. It's a relief to know that the Vatican has finally dissolved this group.
Narrative B
Though it's indeed positive news that Pope Francis has suppressed the Sodalitium Vitae Christianae movement, this decision does little to solve the systemic abuse within the Catholic Church. If the Vatican really wants to tackle these issues, it's time to empower lay people to hold their peers, as well as those more senior to them, to account in cases of exploitation.
