By Ciro Molina de León, survivor of ecclesial pedophilia
The tolling of the bells announced the death of Bernardo Álvarez, bishop emeritus of Tenerife. And with them came the praises and cheers for his figure, as if his passing had made him good and holy; the model of a pastor he was not; or as if his episcopate had been distinguished by the humanity of other bishops.
To show respect for a deceased person, it is enough to address their family and loved ones, have a humane gesture, and give them a dignified burial. This does not require, far from it, decreeing 2 days of official mourning. However, the La Laguna City Council wanted to honor him in that exaggerated and artificial way. And although the political, religious, and military powers join in said honors, let these words serve to make it clear that he does not deserve them, —his controversies are there—.
Even less so, mourning should have occurred in a city that frequently speaks out in favor of eradicating any type of violence. The violence that children and adolescents have suffered within the Church is also violence, and one of the most execrable: sexual violence. With these types of gestures, it is demonstrated that, when it comes to the Church, public institutions fall to their knees, genuflect, become cowardly, and remain silent.
It is not something that surprises, since this same corporation tried to prevent in October 2022, —the undersigned—, from being able to recount in the municipal plenary session the abuses to which a priest subjected me. In this way, it was intended to make this scourge visible, —which affects many sectors of society—, and to count on the support of public representatives to request the bishop's dismissal for being a cover-up. It was, therefore, a symbolic initiative that had no legal consequences but connected with the concept of restorative justice.
With the mourning imposed by the socialist mayor of La Laguna, where does the application of the separation of powers criterion mentioned in that 2022 plenary session now stand? Where does the conscience against violence stand? Or the non-exercise of institutional violence? Because… supporting a cover-up is taking sides with the aggressor.
As is known, since Bernardo acceded to the episcopate, he did nothing against the pederast priest and allowed him to continue practicing despite a previous complaint from 2004. Years had to pass until, due to a second complaint in 2014 and the modifications to Canon Law made by Pope Francis, he was forced to initiate a canonical process that proved the validity of the accusations. The person in charge of carrying it out was Teodoro León, current auxiliary bishop of Seville.
Álvarez also did not accompany the victim to court, nor did he even offer her help to face legal proceedings. And this, despite the law obliging him to report these events to the ordinary justice system.In the deceased, the conditions are met that make him a paradigm of the impunity that, even today, the clergy enjoys in a non-denominational state. He was not investigated by the civil justice system because it was the Church itself that boycotted that route. Nor by
Not John Paul II, nor Benedict XVI. The only one who did something was Francis, who requested the Diocese to resolve the previously referenced case satisfactorily.
Therefore, Bernardo can be described as a cover-up artist for at least 10 years. This is also demonstrated by investigations from the newspaper El País, which place him among those 61 prelates who concealed pederasts. And this is the case simply because there is documentation that proves it. These are not, therefore, inventions or false accusations.
Here arises the question of why, who, or what structures want that, once deceased, he continues to be a respectable figure or becomes a symbol of Tenerife society.
Why does the Diocese, with Bishop Eloy at its head, seek to mythologize a person about whom the simple and informed populace does not hold a fond memory? Why forget that he said those of us who suffer abuse do so because we provoke adults? Why not bring to the present that he compared homosexuality to alcoholism? Why did he never account for the fire that affected the historic Casa Salazar in La Laguna? Why justify all of this and his other controversies by speaking of human weakness?
The deceased bishop is also mythologized by public representatives because they remain clerical, even the mayor is emotional. In addition to respecting him for the power he represents, they have not dared to question or confront him publicly because their criteria are subjugated; because the collective identity continues to be mixed with religion, as if the former could not exist without the latter; and because they see in the cassock or episcopal dignity not only a synonym for goodness and integrity, but also that coveted niche of votes.
Can a society, in its noble pursuit of justice, continue to venerate those who protected sexual aggressors?
With the construction of the mythical narrative about Álvarez's life and ministry, the Church, once again, seeks to protect its reputation and prestige. Thus, it believes it can maintain the preservation of the moral elements that should govern Canarian society intact. As well as marking its territory; remembering that it is the one in charge and plays the role of spiritual guide; or placing itself on the right side of history. Hence, the public presence it has exhibited in recent days is very important to it.
Bernardo was buried at the feet of La Candelaria and the two Canarian saints that exist to this day. As if he were to enjoy the fullness attributed to the Virgin, Brother Pedro, and José de Anchieta. Or at least that is how he perceived himself. And he wanted to leave that image immortalized for future generations in the cold floor of the cathedral.
In that vain and arrogant election, which consecrates its myth to maintain the confidence of the flock, to erase the shadows of its past and close ranks against criticism, it is imperative to remember that it was never on the side of the victims of its pederasts. And that, instead of uniting and championing their struggle, or being proactive, it lagged behind what was happening.
They may deify Bernardo and link him to the idea that the Church does not err; they may even rewrite his past and thereby annul the memory of the victims. However, cover-up and a holy life are incompatible concepts. And mercy, without truth or reparation, does not exist. For it is inseparable from the justice that the clergy preaches.
