the archbishop of Reggio Calabria revokes his appointment

The priest Carmelo Perrello

Mons. Fortunate MorroneArchbishop of Reggio Calabria – Bova, has announced that he “has revoked the appointment of the priest Carmelo Perrello to parish administrator of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio in Concessa”, a parish on the northern outskirts of Reggio Calabria.

The Guarantor for Children of the Calabria Region had intervened three days ago on the nomination of Don Perrello to lead the parish of Concessa, Anthony Martialwho, citing the online newspaper ‘Il Dispaccio.it’, had highlighted the fact that Don Perrello had benefited from the statute of limitations following a complaint for an alleged crime of paedophilia.

“The Archbishop – it is read in a press release from the Curia – that in determining the appointment of Perrello acted in compliance with the current civil and canonical legislation and in compliance with the indications received from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Holy See – has nevertheless chosen to cancel the assignment conferred to the priest from Reggio to restore serenity to the priest himself and to the parish community. Finally, Monsignor Morrone “intends to apologize to all those who may have found reasons for apprehension or scandal regarding the aforementioned appointment and, at the same time, intends to reiterate his paternal spiritual closeness and pastoral attention to the community of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio”.

“I sincerely thank the Archbishop of Reggio Calabria, Fortunato Morrone, for having decided to revoke the appointment of the priest Carmelo Perrello as parish administrator of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio di Concessa di Reggio Calabria”, Martial declares.

“Paedophilia is a minefield for society and above all it has caused the Vatican considerable trouble – the Guarantor highlights – pushing Pope Francis to declare that a priest who molests children cannot continue to be a priest and that the zero tolerance process is to be considered irreversible. The appointment, now revoked, could not therefore go unnoticed. It is not a question of an acquitted priest, but of a prescribed one and the same prelate from Reggio, in the press release of two days ago, had highlighted how it was necessary to have him followed by a psychotherapist and two brothers. As a Guarantor – adds Marziale – I could not fail to listen to the requests received, because the parish remains a juvenile aggregation center under my territorial jurisdiction in terms of the safety of children and adolescents. And, sincerely, knowing paedophilia very closely also in its psychological implications, I could not have said I was calm, like those who intended to contact me”. “Today’s decision by Archbishop Morrone reconciles the action of the local church to the papal pronouncement and therefore – concludes the Guarantor – it is to be greeted with the certainty that all together, lay and religious institutions, are committed on the same front to protect the little ones”. (AGI)