Ten years earlier, in 2014, a young man named Francisco JC was twenty four years old. He had served as a Trinitarian priest since turning eighteen, and his career path sparked wide discussion in religious circles within the state. As a theology student, he was preparing to become a church priest, following in his mother’s footsteps since she had pursued a religious vocation as a nun.
He later spoke to a newspaper agency, saying that his faith had been nurtured by his mother since childhood. A priest from Veleño was arrested on September 10 on four alleged sexual assaults and up to five counts of privacy violations. He stated at the time that the scandals within the Church were deeply shameful and hurtful to the faithful.
The Veleño parish priest, who until recently served in Yunquera or El Burgo, commented on an incident that occurred in Granada at that time, stressing the need for the Church to pursue justice. He added that those accused should not be tried in an unduly public way, and he hoped for fair processes and resolute church leadership in making its own determinations.
Francisco was born while his mother, a Poor Clare nun living in a convent in Veleño, had already left the religious life. The theology student later described working as a religion teacher and, in 2014, as an educator in a nursery. When asked what his family talked about at that moment, he said they discussed his path toward parish priesthood and the idea that the Church had undergone substantial changes since his mother left the Poor Clare path.
his last rites
He continued to reflect that the Church had evolved considerably while the core vocation remained the same. The support structures around the vocation, however, had adapted. Today, psychological accompaniment is a standard part of seminary training, a far-reaching change from earlier times. Almost a decade later, after his ordination, he was assigned to a church in Melilla.
At the start of this year, reports suggested he had begun a relationship with a woman. In response, the Diocese of Malaga moved him back toward his home province for health reasons. He conducted his last rites in El Burgo on September 9 and even organized a neighborhood gathering for the following week, according to municipal records. A day later, he was arrested, and the full reasons for his subsequent absence only became clear later that year.
the order of the trinity and its stance
In a press release, the Trinitarian Order stated that it does not accept the individual as a full member of the religious community. The accused was never formally admitted as a member, although he acknowledged spending a period in the Order’s training program.
The Order explained that the person in question was not completedly integrated into the group and had left formal education in 2012 before the official inclusion process. The Order of the Trinity also expressed deep regret over the alleged actions and condemned any form of abuse. It emphasized a commitment to a safe and respectful environment for all, especially the vulnerable, and highlighted cooperation with authorities in pursuit of justice.
The religious community offered solidarity and support to victims, describing the alleged crimes as horrible and unacceptable. It affirmed its willingness to work with investigators to promote a safer and more just society for everyone, aiming to eliminate social harms and protect the well-being of the community at large, while continuing to support victims and maintain public trust. [Citation: Church statements and regional press coverage]