Women say mosaics by priest accused of molestation must go

ROME, Italy (AFP) — The Catholic Church is under pressure to remove hundreds of mosaics by a priest who is a world-famous artist, after five women accused him of sexual assault on Friday.

Slovenian mosaic artist Marko Rupnik is accused of psychological and sexual violence against at least 20 women over almost 30 years.

According to the allegations, this happened mainly in the community he led in Ljubljana. He has already been expelled from his order after admitting to some of the charges.

More than 200 of his works can be seen in churches from Madrid to Washington, D.C., in pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes and Fatima, and in the Vatican.

In a letter published on Friday, five women asked the dioceses concerned to remove his works.

The mosaics “are displayed in places where every believer gathers in prayer… and they disturb the souls of the faithful,” attorney Laura Sgro wrote on their behalf.

“Many women who have suffered irreversible injuries… are reliving” their trauma after coming into contact with the mosaics, the letter said.

The lawsuit also accused Rupnik of sexually abusing at least one nun while he was creating some of the mosaics, and other nuns said they were subjected to violence while posing for the priest.

Three of the women are from Italy, France and Slovenia respectively. The other two have chosen to remain completely anonymous.