Yet Another Priest, Yet Another Scandal: Seven Alleged Victims Aged 11 to 13

Don Ciro Panigara. Credits: BresciaToday

Don Ciro Panigara, a Catholic priest who is 49 years old is now being accused by seven boys aged 11 to 13 over a span of more than 10 years. Six of these incidents occurred between 2011 and 2013 while he was in Adro. The seventh incident described happened just last year after he had completed a "psychological rehabilitation" and was allowed to return to work with adolescents for inexplicable reasons.

The most recent alleged abuse took place at an overnight youth event in San Paolo inside a sleeping bag. The child reportedly told an educator the following morning, visibly shaken. The response, according to the educator was that Panigara downplayed the accusation, and he resigned only after being called in by the bishop.

He has so far not answered any questions posed to him in court. Prosecutors have asked for him to be tried right away, and that process is set to happen in January.

This is another deplorable example of how the Catholic Church continues to recycle priests who are known to have had "problems" with children, often with tragic results. The Church's internal systems yet again have failed to protect the vulnerable.

How much more before a shift happens, not as an option, but something that is inevitable?

References:

https://brescia.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_ottobre_06/don-ciro-panigara-le-accuse-di-pedofilia-salgono-a-sette-sono-ragazzi-dagli-11-ai-13-anni-l-ultimo-sarebbe-molestato-una-notte-7b0b0f37-f2ff-4b04-a5d5-7e3bd69f2xlk.shtml