A progressive Sicilian Catholic priest who took a commendable interest in the welfare of young African migrant boys is facing a significant jail sentence for extorting sex from them in return for residency permits.
Monsignor Don Sergio Librizzi, who sat on the local committee handling asylum claims to Italy and who was involved in a number of local charities and initiatives promoting the welfare of young boys was arrested last year and admitted his guilt, allowing him to be released from prison, reports La Repubblica. Although he is now under house arrest and wears an electronic tag, Sicily prosecutors are now seeking a 10-year custodial prison sentence for his having sex with young illegal migrants, reports TheLocal.it.
The charges against Msgr. Librizzi include sexual extortion and sexual violence, relating to his treatment of young migrants under his care as a manager of immigration centres, a member of the committee processing their applications, and an organiser of charities providing food, work, and training to young migrant men and boys. It is alleged he gave the boys money and political refuge papers in return for sexual favours.
La Repubblica reported in June that the priest had also been accused of abusing seminarians under his care in the 1990s. The youths allegedly involved were then aged between 14 and 16 years old, but decided to come forward to report the assaults as adults after his arrest. Msgr. Librizzi is also under investigation for mismanagement of charities.
One of the last newspaper articles published featuring Msgr. Librizzi before his arrest details his involvement in a project to help 13 “young boys” integrate into Italian society by training them as gardeners. Funded by the European Union’s Fund For Integration, Msgr. Librizzi was recorded as the overall coordinator of the project by local news site TrapaniOK. He is also recorded as having been present at the ‘citizen of the world’ conference, an event in Sicily dedicated to the reception of asylum seekers in 2014.
The next hearing for Msgr. Librizzi will be on October 22nd.
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