Below, we share the rectification request letter sent by our brother José Antonio Dávila, General Assistant for Temporal Affairs of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, to Mr. Gustavo Mohme Seminario, Director of La República newspaper, for failing to seek our version regarding the false claims made in the article “The Rafael López Aliaga Factor,” written by journalist Paola Ugaz and published on July 8, 2024, in the said newspaper. You can access the letter in PDF format here.

Due to the extended delay by La República in publishing the rectification request letter, our brother José Antonio Dávila appealed to the Ethics Tribunal of the Peruvian Press Council (CPP). The CPP Ethics Tribunal declared the rectification request resolved following the publication of the letter in the print edition of La República on September 1, 2024.

Lima, July 18th, 2024

Mr. Gustavo Mohme Seminario
Director of La República Newspaper
Jr. Camaná 320, Cercado de Lima,
Lima – Peru

Dear Mr. Mohme,

I am writing to you once again in my capacity as General Assistant for Temporal Affairs of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae to express our strong rejection of the information published in the article titled “The Rafael López Aliaga Factor,” written by journalist Paola Ugaz and published in the July 8th, 2024, edition of your newspaper.

We deeply regret that the aforementioned journalist failed to fulfill the ethical obligation of seeking our position on the issues addressed in her article. We have not received any communication from her to request our version of the events. Furthermore, we categorically reject the claims made in the article as they are inaccurate and distort reality. Exercising our constitutional right to rectification, we clarify the following:

1. The Sodalitium is an institution of the Catholic Church, duly recognized by the Holy See as a Lay Apostolic Society of Pontifical Right. Its nature and purpose are centered on evangelization in various human spheres, following the Church’s guidance and addressing its needs. This status is both public and well-known. It is offensive that the journalist refers to our institution as “Sodalicio S.A.,” revealing an intent to misinform and harm the right to the good reputation of our community and its members.

2. Like any ecclesial institution, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae requires financial 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 individuals close to the Sodalitium have developed initiatives and institutions, which are legally autonomous and governed by their statutes and current legal regulations, as well as by Christian moral principles and the Church’s Social Teaching. Contrary to what the article suggests without any evidence, none of these institutions have engaged in crimes such as money laundering, tax fraud, or the illegal exploitation of the Church-State agreement in Peru, or any other illegal activities.

3. It is false that the Sodalitium is directed by Father Jaime Baertl, as the journalist claims. In accordance with canon law, the governance of the Sodalitium is exercised by the Superior General, supported by members of a Superior Council, who are elected by the General Assembly. The last General Assembly was overseen by Pontifical Delegates appointed by the Holy See to guide the renewal process in which our community is progressing. The Holy See approved the election of the new authorities.

4. Regarding the Sodalitium’s financial decisions, both within and outside Peru, operational responsibility lies with the undersigned of this letter. Institutions distinct from the Sodalitium are autonomous and independent, and their decisions are made by collegiate bodies. Father Jaime Baertl has not been involved in the administrative or financial matters of our institution for many years.

5. The Civil Association San Juan Bautista (an association related to the Sodalitium and owner of the Parque del Recuerdo cemeteries) has, among its purposes, the promotion of cemeteries and the generation of resources to support the works of the Catholic Church. In fulfilling these objectives, the Civil Association San Juan Bautista has generated financial resources that have helped the Sodalitium, other Catholic institutions, and charitable works. During the period when the cemeteries were established as Missions, in compliance with Peruvian and canonical laws, the Sodalitium managed these cemeteries to give them a sacred character in accordance with the Catholic faith.

In this regard, we refute the false claims made by the journalist in the report:

a) It is false that by “forcing canon law,” the Sodalitium used a “magic formula,” as the journalist alleges, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of ecclesial norms and those regulating the Church-State Agreement in Peru (Concordat). The Concordat recognizes not only dioceses, parishes, and missions but also all entities with canonical legal status. Any Church entity can own Catholic cemeteries.

b) The Sodalitium did not seek to validate an alleged “fiction created” by attorney Carlos Valderrama by obtaining the approval of Cardinal Lluis Martínez Sistach in exchange for a significant sum of money. In accordance with best practices in both canon and civil law, the opinion of recognized canon lawyers was sought. In this case, the report was requested by the Institute of Ecclesiastical Law, presided over by Dr. Carlos Valderrama, at the request of the then Bishop of Lurín, Monsignor José Ramón Gurruchaga. Contrary to what the journalist suggests, no financial compensation was given to Cardinal Martínez Sistach.

c) It is false that the Sodalitium or any of its members sought to “exploit the Concordat” to evade taxes owed to the Peruvian State. The Concordat does not provide any benefits beyond those granted to a nonprofit association in Peru managing a cemetery. These missions did not pay Income Tax (IR) because Peruvian laws classify them as nonprofit associations. They also did not pay General Sales Tax (IGV) because, in Peru, the transfer of burial plots is not subject to this tax. A simple review of Peruvian laws would make this clear. Ignoring this information distorts the nature of Catholic cemeteries, which, far from being mere businesses, are sacred places and part of the Catholic Church’s mission. As such, they are governed by canon law (canons 1240 to 1243), which is fully recognized by Peruvian legislation.

6. It is false that the Sodalitium seeks to “hide money to avoid compensating its victims,” as stated in the article. The Sodalitium does not hide any money. All financial information has been audited for decades and has been meticulously reported to Cardinal Tobin since 2016 and to the Scicluna-Bertomeu Special Mission whenever requested.

It is also false that the Sodalitium has no intention or seeks excuses to avoid compensating victims. Since 2016, the Sodalitium has been implementing a reparation program for individuals who have been victims of abuse by any of its members or former members through its Listening and Assistance Office. As of December 31st, 2023, 73 reparation processes (covering 13 cases of sexual abuse of minors, 16 cases of sexual abuse of adults, and 44 cases of other types of abuse) have been carried out through extrajudicial processes. No reparation has been mandated by a court in any country where the Sodalitium operates. This information has been submitted on multiple occasions to the Holy See, including in 2023 to the Scicluna-Bertomeu Mission, and is also accessible through the Sodalitium’s website. It is notable that the journalist omits any reference to this information, which has already been disclosed, even in the press.

Given the arguments outlined above, and exercising our constitutional right to rectification, we request that this letter be published with the same prominence as the article in question, due to the severe damage caused to our institution’s reputation. We also expect a response this time, unlike the two previous letters sent to you on September 14th, 2023, and January 30th, 2024.

Sincerely,

José Antonio Dávila
General Assistant for Temporal Affairs
Sodalitium Christianae Vitae