NZ theologian praised by Pope for confronting abuse

Dr Rocio Figueroa, who works at Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College in Auckland, was a survivor of abuse herself in the Sodalicio of Christian Life movement.

In Elise Allen’s biography León XIV, Pope Leo referred to Dr Figueroa’s role in raising awareness of abuses in the Solidacio. Pope Leo was a missionary priest and bishop in Peru.

Pope Leo said in the book: “A series of concerns arise. Certainly, in that particular case, as events unfolded, several aspects were involved – people who were blind to the reality of what was happening within the specific group; people who undoubtedly knew at least something of what was going on in the group and tried to block any discovery of what had taken place.

“For me, a very significant issue, a specific issue in that case, revolved around a man named Germán Doig. When he died, five years passed, and they immediately tried to open his cause for beatification. That was a catalyst, because it was then that some of the first victims really began to speak out.

“There was a woman who had been a victim, Rocío Figueroa, who simply said, ‘This is too much’, and very courageously decided to raise her voice and confront the issue.

“Of course, the institutional response was to drag her name through the mud, to say she was crazy, to look for every possible way to defame her – simply to destroy the person. When I became aware of that and continued reading about the matter, and then saw that even when it became clear that she had been right, the response of the institution – and I say the institution intentionally, because there’s something that happens in this case – obviously there are names and surnames for the individuals involved, and some were responsible for parts of it, but the institution itself becomes corrupted by this mentality that ‘we must defend the institution above and against everything’.

“People were formed, or one could say brainwashed in secular terms, but I mean this kind of blind loyalty that said, ‘Rocío must be wrong, and this must be right’.”

Dr Figueroa said in a Facebook post that this was “the first time I have received such an acknowledgment from Rome. I have received what so many victims are never given – the grace of being believed and having my dignity restored”.

In 2022, Pope Francis suppressed Sodalicio, recognising deep failings within the institution.

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Facebook – Te Kupenga CTC

Biography of Pope Leo XIV set to be published shortly (Sunday Examiner)