LA TORTUOSA BÚSQUEDA DE LA VERDAD EN LOS CASOS DE ABUSOS SEXUALES DE MENORES COMETIDOS POR SACERDOTES EN ARGENTINA: EL JUICIO DEL P. GRASSI

Abstract

In the last decades sexual abuse of minors arose in the Catholic Church as an unforeseen storm, involving bishops, priests and religious organizations. The enquiries showed a complex set of unlawful and unethical serious conducts that created an environment of distrust, anger and grief among the laity. In many countries civil and ecclesiastic tribunals sought to solve the problem. In Argentina one case brought the attention of both the society and the media: the trial against the priest Julio Grassi. The search for the truth was difficult for the media tried to influence the judicial-decision-making process. This event favoured the debate of many relevant constitutional issues related with the due process of law. But after more than a decade the federal Supreme Court affirmed what the first tribunal had decided: Grassi is guilty. The battle for a fair trial has ended though many people still believe Grassi is innocent.