Pope Francis Expels 10 from Troubled Peruvian Catholic Movement Following “Sadistic” Abuse Investigation

Pope Francis has expelled 10 people, including a bishop, priests, and laypeople, from the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), a troubled Catholic movement in Peru, CNN reports.

The decision follows a Vatican investigation that uncovered “sadistic” abuses of power, authority, and spirituality within the organization.

The expulsions come just weeks after Francis expelled the group’s founder, Luis Figari, for confirmed cases of sodomy against his recruits. This latest action marks a significant escalation in the Vatican’s response to allegations of abuse within the SCV, which has been under scrutiny for years.

The Peruvian Bishops Conference released a statement from the Vatican embassy detailing the findings of the investigation, which revealed a disturbing range of abuses:

• Physical abuses “including with sadism and violence”

• Sect-like abuses of conscience and spiritual abuse

• Abuses of authority

• Economic abuses in administering church money

• Abuse in the exercise of journalistic apostolate

The latter refers to accusations of abuse targeting a Sodalitium-linked journalist who has attacked critics of the movement online.

The decision is expected to be met with relief by victims who have long called for accountability within the organization.

Founded in 1971, the SCV aimed to recruit “soldiers for God,” emerging as a conservative counterpoint to the leftist liberation theology movement prevalent in Latin America. The group once boasted over 20,000 members across South America and the United States, wielding significant influence in Peru.

While allegations against Figari emerged as early as 2000, it was only in 2011 that victims first reported them to the Lima archdiocese. However, no concrete action was taken until 2015, when a victim, Pedro Salinas, co-authored a book with journalist Paola Ugaz, “Half Monks, Half Soldiers,” exposing the disturbing practices of the Sodalitium.

The Vatican’s investigation, led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, confirmed the severity of the abuses. An independent investigation ordered by the Sodalitium itself previously described Figari as “narcissistic, paranoid, demeaning, vulgar, vindictive, manipulative, racist, sexist, elitist and obsessed with sexual issues and the sexual orientation” of its members.