The Holy See has appointed an apostolic visitator to look into claims by Indonesian rebel priests that their bishop kept a mistress and misappropriated church funds.
Holy Cross Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung was assigned to investigate and will visit Ruteng Diocese on Flores Island next week.
Bishop Bunjamin, who is also general secretary of the Indo-nesian bishops’ conference, told ucanews.com on Aug. 8 that the Vatican had asked him to verify whether accusations against Bishop Hubertus Leteng of Ruteng that he misused money and had an alleged affair with a woman were true.
Bishop Bunjamin’s appoint-ment came soon after it was announced on social media that Catholics from Ruteng Diocese living in Jakarta would gather at the Apostolic Nunciature for a vigil calling for a speedy reso-lution to the row.
Bishop Bunjamin said the gathering would “worsen the situation.”
“The Vatican through Propa-ganda Fidei [the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples] has taken serious action,” he said.
