Vatican denies decision made in abuse trial against artist priest Rupnik

VATICAN CITY, July 22 (Reuters) – The Vatican denied on Wednesday that a verdict had been reached in a canonical case against prominent Slovenian priest Marko Ivan Rupnik, who is accused of sexual and psychological abuse by more than 20 women, most of them former nuns.

The case has come to be seen as a test of the Vatican’s commitment to accountability for clergy abuse.

Religious artist Rupnik, whose mosaics decorate nearly 200 churches and chapels around the world, including the Vatican, was expelled from the Jesuit order in 2023 after the accusations against him were deemed “too high” credible.

Earlier this week, Latino Catholic blog Messa reported that Rupnik had been acquitted by Vatican judges, while Laura Sgro, a lawyer for some of the alleged victims, also complained about the secrecy of the intra-church hearing.

“The evaluation of the case is still ongoing and the board is reviewing documents from the relevant dioceses, the Jesuits, interested parties and the press,” the Vatican press office said.

The statement said, “During the hearing, as in all kinds of judicial processes, no information regarding ongoing activities can be shared in any way, out of respect for the trial and in order not to harm the persons concerned.”

Rupnik, 71, did not comment on the allegations.

In 2024, former nun Gloria Branciani said at a press conference that Rupnik forced her to have a threesome with him and another nun in Slovenia, justifying it as “devotion to the Holy Trinity.” He said he later forced her to visit pornographic movie theaters with him in Rome.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, Editing by Hugh Lawson)