Pope Francis expels priest for child sexual abuse

Today, the expulsion of the Argentine Catholic priest, José Mercau, sentenced in 2011 to 14 years in prison for sexual abuse of five children was officially announced.

“The Holy Father has declared the resignation of José Mercau, priest from the clerical state,” was said in a statement issued by the Diocese of San Isidro, a town in the north of Buenos Aires.

With this decree, Mercau “has automatically lost the own rights of the clerical state, being deprived of all exercise of the priestly ministry,” among them, celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments, noted the text.

Mercau was convicted for “repeatedly corruption of minors, in real competition with sexual abuse through aggravated sexual intercourse.”

The crimes were committed between 2000 and 2005 and Mercau was released on March 18 by decision of the Oral Criminal Court 7 of San Isidro.