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Panama Archbishop Seeks Forgiveness for Abuse, Promotes Transparency
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In Short: Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta of Panama asked victims for forgiveness and committed to reporting abuse allegations to authorities.
Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta of Panama apologized to victims of sexual abuse and pledged to report relevant allegations to civil authorities, adhering to current legislation.
During a presentation of the report 'Assessment of Institutional Responses (AIR)' on Sept. 4, Ulloa Mendieta emphasized the need to address the issue of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable persons within the Archdiocese of Panama from 2001 to 2025.
The archbishop requested the services of the Transparency Commission, a project sponsored by Notre Dame Law School and Madrid’s Villanueva University, to help prevent future abuse.
The Transparency Commission, an interdisciplinary group of independent experts, focuses on preventing abuse in ecclesial settings where crises have not yet occurred or have not been revealed.
What's still developing
- The prelate explained that the archdiocese he leads “remains committed to reporting relevant allegations to the competent civil authorities in accordance with current legislation” and acknowledged the need to ask what can be done better to move forward in the prevention of abuse.
- “A culture of protection is not built solely through written rules; it is built when every priest, religious, pastoral worker, collaborator, and member of our communities understands that protecting minors and vulnerable persons is an ongoing, shared responsibility,” the archbishop emphasized.