In a document sent to the weekly news magazine L'Espresso, details of which were published on 22 January, 67 ex-pupils chronicled sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by priests and brothers belonging to the Compagnia di Maria per l'Educazione dei Sordomuti. They claim the abuse took place over a period of at least 30 years up to 1984.In a statement issued after the article came out, the bishop of Verona, Giuseppe Zenti, said that, if the allegations proved to be true, they would represent a "lacerating wound" for all Christians. He promised an exhaustive investigation, but at the same time hinted that they were being used for the purposes of extortion.
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