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Rabat Cardinal Steps Aside
Spanish Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat, Morocco, announced Tuesday that he would temporarily withdraw from all public and pastoral activities while a preliminary investigation opened by the Church following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward adult women is underway.
“Spanish Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat, Morocco, announced Tuesday that he will temporarily withdraw from all public and pastoral activities while a preliminary investigation — opened by the Church following allegations of inappropriate behavior toward adult women — is underway”
López Romero asserted his innocence in a brief statement carried by the EFE news agency, saying, “I have not committed any assault, violence, or sexual harassment,” and he said the case is currently in the hands of the competent authorities of the Holy See.
In a message to his archdiocesan community at the end of the pastoral year, he said the Church has initiated a preliminary investigation and that, during this period, he would not preside at public celebrations or participate in pastoral activities so as not to interfere with the inquiry.
He also asked for prayers for all those affected by the situation, for the Church, and for himself, as the decisions to be adopted by ecclesiastical authorities upon the conclusion of the proceedings are awaited.
The EWTN News English translation notes the statement was obtained by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, after López Romero’s announcement.
Accusers, Denials, and Inquiry
An AFP investigation cited by Punch Newspapers and Times of Malta says at least five women accused López Romero of sexual assault, prompting the Spanish-born cleric to announce he was “stepping back” from office Tuesday while the Vatican holds an inquiry.
One woman who said he molested her made a written complaint about the cardinal in May to the Vatican embassy in Morocco, accusing him of “particularly insistent and prolonged hugs” and “an attempt at physical intimacy that could be likened to an attempt” to kiss her.
López Romero denied wrongdoing when contacted by AFP, telling Times of Malta that he was “aware of the allegations” and adding that he had “already responded to my ecclesiastical superiors and I will continue to fully cooperate with them in the investigation”.
A church source in the archdiocese condemned “a culture of complicity and silence” among those around the cardinal, accusing them of helping to protect him, while Punch Newspapers reported that the cardinal’s deputy, Vicar General Marc Helfer, said the Church’s internal bodies should be allowed to conduct their investigation.
Nadia Debbache, a Moroccan lawyer specializing in sexual violence cases, said the acts the cardinal is accused of could amount to “aggravated sexual harassment and aggravated sexual assault,” with the aggravating factor being “the abuse of authority by their alleged perpetrator.”
What Comes Next
The Vatican’s inquiry is tied to López Romero’s decision to step aside, with his statement to the faithful saying, “During this period of investigation, and so as not to hinder it, I am stepping back — refraining from presiding over any public celebration or participating in any pastoral activity,” as the process continues.
“Marrakech – At least five women have accused Cristobal Lopez Romero, the Archbishop of Rabat, of sexual violence, prompting the Vatican to open a formal investigation into one of the Catholic Church’s most prominent cardinals”
Le Figaro reported that the archbishop said he is the subject of a Vatican investigation and that he would step back after accusations of sexual violence and inappropriate behavior revealed by AFP, while it also said no complaint has at this stage been filed with Moroccan justice.
The Times of Malta account says the Holy See did not immediately respond to AFP’s requests for comment, and it also notes that AFP was not able to verify claims by at least three other women because some were allegedly made during confession.
Morocco World News reported that the Vatican opened a formal investigation into one of the Catholic Church’s most prominent cardinals, and it said the archbishop pledged to “fully cooperate with them in the investigation” while denying the allegations.
Across the coverage, the central consequence described is that López Romero’s public and pastoral role is paused while ecclesiastical authorities determine what the allegations amount to, with his deputy Marc Helfer saying, “We do not know whether (the reported acts) really amount to sexual assault.”
