Calls for Dismantling Artworks of Accused Priest Amidst Global Outrage

"Repugnant works against the faith and abuse victims: they must be dismantled." In the USA, as in France, authoritative groups of Catholics are moving to destroy and dismantle sacred artworks of the former Jesuit (still a priest) accused of very serious sexual and psychological violence by several women. A terrible case well known also in the Vatican that is raising the indignation of the worldwide public opinion due to the various protections and supports received over the years by Rupnik from some cardinals and bishops of the curia. It is whispered that even the Pope intervened in his favor to have a first excommunication lifted two years ago, although when asked by the Ap last year, Francis cut it short: "For me, it was a surprise, really. A person, an artist of this level, for me, it was a great surprise and a wound." This year he authorized a new trial at the Dicastery of the Faith where the first testimonies of the victims have begun to arrive. An ex-nun accuses Father Rupnik: "I was abused and forced into orgies by Father Rupnik, let the rubber wall fall." In the United States, the Cardinal O'Boyle Council, one of the groups that supports the Knights of Columbus, approved a resolution last April 9th calling for the removal of the mosaic works from the shrine dedicated to John Paul II. The news leaked on The Pillar and tells that the Council has asked for the replacement of the mosaics with other liturgical works suitable for the celebration of the sacraments and to proceed towards a complete restructuring of the work done at the time by Rupnik and generously financed by the Knights of Columbus. Vatican, the victims of Father Rupnik for the first time go to press conference: the wall of silence is broken. "O'Boyle Council invites the executive leadership of the Knights of Columbus to immediately make public apologies to the victims of Rupnik" the resolution adds. "The mosaics are repugnant to the faith, morality, and Christian piety due and lack artistic value because Rupnik, reportedly, consumed his sexual abuses precisely through the creation of his works." In 2018, the Society of Jesus had undertaken preliminary investigations on the Slovenian artist which in May 2019 were deemed credible by his own religious order, thus sending the documentation to the Vatican. Shortly thereafter, Rupnik was ordered a series of sanctions and restrictions which he never respected and in 2020 the Dicastery of the Faith decided for him the maximum penalty, excommunication, for absolution of an accomplice. In May 2020, with the protocol letter n. 685/2019 published by the conservative blog Messa in Latino, signed by Cardinal Ladaria and Monsignor Di Noia, the excommunication was notified although then an "unknown hand" in high places revoked the excommunication. Vatican, the Rupnik case is a ticking time bomb: in Lourdes there are victims of violence offended by the mosaics of the abusive priest. The excommunication was decided because Rupnik would have sacramentally absolved a woman after a sexual encounter, a serious crime for canon law. Over time, the accusations have led to the request for the removal of artistic works in different parts of the world and also in the Sanctuary in Lourdes, France. Meanwhile, academic titles have also been revoked from Rupnik, however, on this year's Pontifical Yearbook his name still appears among the consultants of the Dicastery of Divine Worship. A bitter surprise for the victims and for the public opinion itself at a time when the Church's credibility in the fight against abuse is under pressure and being questioned.