Documentary record Bound by Fear
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Conviction Christian institutions & contexts Catholic Faial Island, Azores, Portugal · 2026

Portugal: Azores priest convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl in his care

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

See cited record

Organization

No organization assigned

Spiritual nexus

The victim was visiting the priest and was explicitly under his care ('ao seu cuidado') at the time of the assault -- a custodial relationship the court found he exploited, taking advantage of her 'ingenuidade e inexperiência' (naivety and inexperience) given his clerical position.

  • Pastoral or clerical authority

Evidence structure

Proceedings

  1. 2026-05-15 · First-instance conviction and sentencing

    Juízo de Competência Genérica da Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal. Convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a dependent minor; one year eight months suspended, plus compensation; prosecution appealed for a harsher classification

Primary record

Sources

CNN Portugal (2026) '"Introduziu a mão dentro da camisola que vestia e tentou tocar-lhe nos seios e beijá-la na boca". Padre condenado por tentativa de abuso sexual de menor nos Açores'. Available at: cnnportugal.iol.pt (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Horta court (Faial, Azores) convicted a priest of attempted sexual abuse of a dependent minor; the July 2024 acts involved a 15-year-old girl who was visiting the defendant and in his care -- he embraced her, put his hand under her clothing and attempted to touch her breasts and kiss her mouth four times, only managing to kiss her cheek as she pulled away. Sentence: one year eight months, suspended, plus victim compensation.

CNN Portugal (2026) '"Introduziu a mão dentro da camisola que vestia e tentou tocar-lhe nos seios e beijá-la na boca". Padre condenado por tentativa de abuso sexual de menor nos Açores'. Available at: cnnportugal.iol.pt (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Horta court (Faial, Azores) convicted a priest of attempted sexual abuse of a dependent minor; the July 2024 acts involved a 15-year-old girl who was visiting the defendant and in his care -- he embraced her, put his hand under her clothing and attempted to touch her breasts and kiss her mouth four times, only managing to kiss her cheek as she pulled away. Sentence: one year eight months, suspended, plus victim compensation.

Agência Ecclesia (2026) 'Açores: Sacerdote condenado pela «prática de um crime de abuso sexual de menores de forma tentada»'. Available at: agencia.ecclesia.pt (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Diocese of Angra confirmed the conviction, ordered compensation to the victim, and reported that Rome confirmed the diocese's suspension of the priest pending a parallel canonical process; the Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the classification, arguing the crime was in fact consummated.

Agência Ecclesia (2026) 'Açores: Sacerdote condenado pela «prática de um crime de abuso sexual de menores de forma tentada»'. Available at: agencia.ecclesia.pt (Accessed 2026-07-19). English gloss: The Diocese of Angra confirmed the conviction, ordered compensation to the victim, and reported that Rome confirmed the diocese's suspension of the priest pending a parallel canonical process; the Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the classification, arguing the crime was in fact consummated.

Related record

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