Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Workplaces of the Ecclesiastical Courtroom in Santiago were amongst premises raided
Police and prosecutors in Chile have raided workplaces and seized documents of the Roman Catholic Church amid a child sexual abuse and cover-up scandal.
The surprise raids happened in the capital Santiago and within the town of Rancagua.
They come as Vatican envoys are in Chile to research the claims and recommend dioceses the best way to respond.
On Monday the Pope widespread the resignations of three Chilean bishops within the wake of the scandal.
They integrated the arguable Juan Barros who used to be accused of protecting up sexual abuse committed through priest Fernando Karadima in the nineteen eighties and 1990s.
Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna (L) and fellow papal envoy Jordi Bertomeu have spoken to sufferers of abuse
Papal envoys Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Msgr Jordi Bertomeu are on their 2d discuss with to Chile to take statements from sufferers. they have already compiled a report that says the Chilean Church coated up abuse circumstances and destroyed evidence.
Pope Francis become involved within the scandal surrounding Juan Barros whilst he defended the bishop during his discuss with to Chile in January. at the time he stated that allegations against the bishop amounted to “slander”.
He later apologised to victims, announcing: “I apologise to them if I harm them with out realising it, but it was once a wound that I inflicted with out meaning to.”
About EIGHTY Roman Catholic monks have been suggested to authorities in Chile for alleged sexual abuse over the past 18 years.
Under Pope Francis, a Vatican committee has been set up to battle sexual abuse and help sufferers.
