Below, we share the rectification request letter sent by our brother Daniel Calderón, General Assistant for Communications of the Sodalitium of Christian Life, to Mr. Javier Arias, director of the Infovaticana portal, rejecting the false claims made in an article published on August 15th, 2024, on the said website.

You can access the letter in PDF format.

You can view the response to the rectification request published by Infovaticana on August 17th, 2024.

Lima, August 17th, 2024

Mr. Javier Arias
Director of Infovaticana

Dear Mr. Arias,

I am writing to you in my capacity as General Assistant for Communications of the Sodalitium of Christian Life to express our strong rejection of the information published in the article titled “The ‘Sodalicio Case’: A Turning Point Within the Church” authored by you and published on August 15th, 2024.

We are concerned that we were not contacted to provide our perspective on the matters discussed, which is essential for balanced and ethical journalistic coverage. Despite having direct contact with me, we have not received any communication from you to request our version of events.

We categorically reject the claims made in the article for being inaccurate and defamatory, relying on unidentified sources without providing any evidence. Exercising our right to rectification, we clarify the following:

1. You state: “Well-informed sources explain to this outlet that their societies have laundered hundreds of millions in offshore accounts.” Contrary to the implications of the article, which lacks any evidentiary basis, none of these institutions has engaged in crimes such as money laundering, illegal exploitation of the Church-State agreement (Concordat) in Peru, or any other unlawful acts. The Sodalitium of Christian Life, like any other ecclesial institution recognized canonically by the Holy See, requires resources to fulfill its mission, ensure the sustainability of its communities, and support the works it promotes in several countries. To meet these needs, some of its members and other individuals close to the Sodalitium have developed initiatives and institutions that are legally autonomous, governed by their statutes and current legal norms, as well as by Christian morality and the Church’s Social Teaching.

2. Regarding your reference to “a concrete example of alleged fraud” involving ’10 private cemeteries fraudulently considered ‘missions’” we state the following:

The Civil Association San Juan Bautista (an association related to the Sodalitium and owner of the Parque del Recuerdo cemeteries) aims to promote cemeteries and generate resources to support the works of the Catholic Church. In fulfilling these objectives, the association has generated financial resources, which have supported the Sodalitium and other Catholic institutions and charitable works.

There has never been any fraudulent exploitation of the Concordat to classify cemeteries as “missions.” As activities inherent to the Church, the cemeteries referred to, once administered by the Sodalitium, were established as Missions, adopting a legal framework governed by canon law (cc. 1240 to 1243). These were duly recognized under Peruvian law and supported by canonists and bishops in their respective jurisdictions.

3. The article claims the alleged fraud arises from “the Peruvian Concordat providing exemptions for dioceses, parishes, and missions.“ It is false that the Sodalitium has fraudulently sought tax exemptions from the Peruvian State, as the Concordat offers no benefits beyond those available to nonprofit associations in Peru managing cemeteries. These missions did not pay Income Tax (IR) because Peruvian laws classify them as nonprofit associations. They also did not pay the General Sales Tax (IGV) because, in Peru, the transfer of burial plots is not subject to this tax.

4. Furthermore, citing these sources, it is stated that “the Sodalitium used these cemeteries not only to bury the dead but also to launder money from various sources.” Have these sources provided you with evidence to substantiate such defamatory and serious accusations? We categorically reject any allegations referring to any form of “money laundering” by members or institutions related to the Sodalitium, or any collusion with “certain media outlets linked to the ecclesiastical world and corrupt Peruvian politicians,” as suggested by your questionable sources. Additionally, all financial information has been audited for decades and has been meticulously reported to our Pontifical Delegate for economic affairs, Cardinal Tobin, since 2016, and to the Scicluna-Bertomeu Special Mission upon their request.

5. We strongly reject the offensive statement that our community operates “under the guise of a conservative ecclesial group, anti-liberation theology, where there was only abuse and business,” or the insinuation that it is part of “large religious-economic holdings.” The Sodalitium is an institution of the Catholic Church, recognized by the Holy See as a Lay Apostolic Society of Pontifical Right. Its nature and mission are centered on evangelization in various human spheres, following the Church’s guidance and addressing its needs. We promote works of human development, school, higher, and technical education, the evangelization of families and youth, and solidarity-based volunteerism, reaching thousands of people across different countries and continents. This status is both public and well-known.

6. You state that the Sodalitium has “distributed close to two million dollars collectively” to the victims. This claim, apart from being inaccurate, completely misrepresents the purpose of the reparations that the Sodalitium has been implementing since April 2016, reducing them to a mere “financial handout.”

For the Sodalitium, reparation is intended to be an act of justice aimed at helping individuals who have suffered any kind of abuse by a member or former member of our community heal the wound inflicted on their dignity. Moreover, we believe that the reparation of any victim must be addressed individually and personally. Therefore, we have sought to implement various actions to contribute as effectively as possible to the healing process of each individual. To that end, in addition to offering an apology, three avenues of reparation have been established: academic support, therapeutic support, and financial compensation.

7. We reject the claim that the Sodalitium is comparable to institutions with “false charisms that serve only hidden interests.” As stated in our recent communiqué regarding the expulsion of Luis Fernando Figari from the Sodalitium, our charism is a gift from God for the service of the Church’s evangelizing mission, one that transcends the fidelity of any individual, including the founder.

This charism, duly recognized by the Holy See, has given rise to numerous apostolic works. It remains vibrant and inspires the spiritual life of many individuals who are part of the Sodalitium Family, present in nine countries. Evidence of its validity is the paternal care shown by the Holy See in accompanying us over the past few years in the renewal of our community. This has been realized not only through the closeness of Pope Francis but also through the pontifical delegates appointed to guide us on this path.

Given the arguments outlined above, and exercising our right to rectification, we request that this letter be published on your portal due to the serious harm caused to the honor of our institution.

Sincerely,

Daniel Calderón
General Assistant for Communications
Sodalitium Christianae Vitae