Chilean priest Oscar Muñoz was convicted for having abused at least five minors during 16 years. But the list of his victims could potentially grow. Muñoz was close to cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, who faced accusations of aiding abusers.
A Santiago court sentenced Catholic priest Oscar Muñoz to 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of minors. The crimes took place between 2002 and 2018.
Evidence established that Muñoz abused five minors, but more evidence related to two other potential victims is still being evaluated. Prosecutors in the latter case demand a 30-year sentence.
Muñoz held several senior positions and was a confidante of Santiago’s cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, who has been accused of covering up sexual abuse cases.
In 2019, Pope Francis expelled Muñoz, who was taken into custody a year earlier.
Chile’s Catholic Church has been rocked by abuse cases for years, many of which came to light after 2010 in the wake of the Fernando Karadima case.
Ishaan Cheema is an undergraduate student at the University of Calgary, studying Kinesiology, with a focus on Exercise and Health Physiology. He always had a passion for globalism and political journalism, which he explored through Model UN conferences, debate teams, and several other extracurriculars.