It was not really a lightning bolt. The arrest of Don Ciro Panigara, a 48 -year -old Brescia priest, on charges of aggravated sexual violence against some minor kids, arrives after a few months after the precautionary suspension that the diocese had already signed on January 10. Following “some verbal reports”, reads the note spread yesterday by the spokesman of the bishop, Don Adriano Bianchi, “the priest had been immediately suspended by his parish ministry” while “waiting and in compliance with the investigations of the competent civil authority who were started below”. In fact, explains the diocese, “the drama of minors, victims of abuse, cannot be underestimated in any way and, much less, even more so if it involves priests, but the delicacy of the situation of those who are accused of such a serious fault, in any case, requires respect and caution”. And, while it is underlined that “the measure issued is strong and painful”, the diocese manifests first of all “proximity to all the people involved in this painful story, ensuring our full collaboration with the judiciary”.
The last fact, who had pushed the bishop Pierantonio Tremolada to intervene, had happened last December when a boy had reported to his three educators what happened after an evening spent in the oratory that provided that young people – males and females – spent the night all together. With the excuse of the cold, it was the story, the priest had hosted the minor in his bed who, the next morning, according to the testimony of the educators “was visibly shaken”. The educators had asked for immediate explanations to the priest on whose account they had been circulating for some time voices on alleged attention to male teenagers who frequented the oratory. At that point the parish priest, at the request of Monsignor Tremolada, had resigned. The letter of the bishop – signed by Monsignor Alfredo Savoldi – episcopal vicar for the territory of the Bassa Bresciana, to which the parish of San Paolo belongs where the facts would have been carried out (other alleged victims, however, would belong to the previous parish of Adro) – had been read on the day of the epiphany. “I communicate to you”, it was written, “that, on January 3, 2025, Bishop Pierantonio Tremolada welcomed the resignation of your parish priest, Don Ciro Panigara. In the path of personal and pastoral discernment with the Bishop and with the people who accompanied him in these first months of the ministry between you, unfortunately situations and critical issues have emerged, which advise to immediately interrupt his experience in your parish communities “. And again, we read, “Don Ciro put his mandate back into the bishop’s hands in order to be able, with more freedom, continue his personal journey. Bishop Pierantonio is aware that the good of people must always be strictly safeguarded. The loss that this decision causes in all of you is understandable. The bishop, however, asks each one to accompany this moment of the life of your communities with prayer and in the spirit of communion ».
According to the accusations, at least six minors harassed by the parish priest would be.
