An estimated 4000 protesters tried to block Bishop Juan Barros Madrid from entering the cathedral in Osorno on March 21.

Inside the cathedral, there were clashes between the bishop's opponents, carrying black balloons, and supporters, carrying white ones.

While Bishop Barros was celebrating the Mass, many kept screaming "Paedophile!" and "Get out!".

The celebration had to be cut short, skipping the homily, Communion, and other parts of the liturgy.

Bishop Barros was escorted out of a side-door under police guard.

Three people were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Weeks of protests, candlelight vigils and letters to Pope Francis were not enough to persuade him to rescind his decision in January to appoint Bishop Barros.

Bishop Barros was a close associate of the Fr Fernando Karadima, a Santiago priest whom the Vatican found guilty of sexual abuse in 2011.

The abuse took place in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fr Karadima was ordered to retire to a "life of prayer and penitence".

Three of Fr Karadima's victims have accused four Chilean prelates, including Bishop Barros, of covering up for Fr Karadima and of being present while he abused them.

One victim accused Bishop Barros of threatening seminarians if they spoke out.

Another accusation charges that Bishop Barros, while serving as secretary to a cardinal, destroyed letters addressed to him reporting the abuses.

Bishop Barros has denied any knowledge of the abuses.

One victim, Juan Carlos Cruz, said the Pope's decision to appoint Bishop Barros was a slap in the face.

To date, the Vatican has made no statement in response to the criticism of his appointment.

Chilean Archbishop Fernando Chomalí discussed the Barros appointment and the subsequent reaction with the Pope in Rome on March 6.

The archbishop said the Pope was very well informed about the situation and had told him he found no reason to reverse his decision.

Sources

• Crux
• New York Times
• Image: Sydney Morning Herald

A group of priests and deacons in Osorno have complained to the apostolic nuncio for Chile about Bishop Juan Barros Madrid.

The priests and deacons allege the bishop covered up for Fr Fernando Karadima, who sexually abused altar servers.

Bishop Barros was appointed to his latest post by Pope Francis in January.

In 2000, he was appointed Bishop of Iquique and four years later he became the military ordinary for Chile.

Initially a priest of Santiago archdiocese, Bishop Barros was made auxiliary bishop in Valparaiso in 1995.

Victims have said Fr Karadima began abusing them at his residence in Santiago about 20 years ago, when they were teenagers.

The Vatican ordered Fr Karadima to a life of "penitence and prayer" in 2011.

A Chilean judge later dismissed a criminal case because the statute of limitations had expired, but she determined the abuse allegations were truthful.

About 50 Chilean lawmakers signed a petition last week asking the Vatican for the resignation of Bishop Barros, who was known to be close to Fr Karadima.

More than 1000 residents of Osorno have signed a similar petition protesting his nomination.

Early last week, the Pope's point man for clerical sexual abuse, American Cardinal Sean O'Malley, spoke on the need for accountability.

Cardinal O'Malley said the failure of the Church to punish bishops who covered up for abusers had seriously harmed its credibility.

He said canon lawyers and theologians were reviewing proposals to present to the Pope on holding bishops and religious superiors accountable.

The proposals were developed by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which Cardinal O'Malley chairs.

The commission includes two survivors of sexual abuse.

The cardinal said the sex abuse scandal had "seriously diminished" the Church's credibility in its core spheres of defending human rights, the unborn and immigrants.

Sources

• Huffington Post
• Yahoo News
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Image: CathNewsUSA