Argentine Priest Julio César Grassi Begins Prison Sentence, Banned From Priesthood

Argentine Roman Catholic priest Julio César Grassi was jailed Monday, Sept 23, to begin serving a 15-year jail service, the Huffington Post reported. He was charged with sexual abuse and corruption of minors who were under his protection in the "Felices Los Niños" ("Happy Children") institution. 

The 57-year-old priest, who became known for persuading Argentine celebrities to donate to his foundation, was banned from priestly duties on Tuesday, Sept. 24, by the bishopric of the locality of Morón, in western Buenos Aires.

The priest claims he's innocent and is expected to make his final appeal to Argentina's Supreme Court from prison. According to the Buenos Aires Herald, Father Grassi told reporters the 15-year-sentence he received "is a cross one must know how to bear." "Time will bring clarity. Justice takes time," he added.

"I am calm, in peace and I believe in God. I believe in justice of humans, because that's the reason it was created," said Grassi, who remained free despite charges of abusing a teenage boy in 1996.

Plaintiff in the case, Juan Pablo Gallego, said the judicial decision of imprisoning Father Grassi after more than 10 years since he was first convicted will bring "some peace" to the victims, theBuenos Aires Herald informed.

"[The] victims have been the great absents in this debate until now," Mr Gallego told reporters. "This person (Grassi) always considered that the only one with guarantees was him," said the lawyer and questioned the legal procedure that "kept" the priest "free" while he "accessed the Happy Children Foundation and insulted the victims in television," agency Telam reported.

"The victims got some peace yesterday, their guarantees have been recovered and not only those of an impeached who has been convicted three times," said Gallego.

"The cause ended today in terms of certainty about the sentence and he is now starting to pay for his crimes for the first time," said the lawyer and pointed out Grassi "managed to remain unpunished for 11 years but now he has become the victim of his own behavior."