HIV positive Mexican priest who raped 30 girls, let off by Catholic Church

Oaxaca: A Mexican priest, who was accused of raping 30 young girls and infecting them with HIV, has been acquitted by the Catholic Church. His victims were as young as five.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the accused identified as Jose Garcia Ataulfo, was cleared of any wrongdoing by Archdiocese of Mexico.

Ataulfo had admitted to sexually assaulting young girls from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. He has not yet faced any criminal charges, which is assumed to be because of the influence of the church. Reports also said that police officials have refused to start an investigation in the matter.

Moreover, only two out of 30 girls have come forward and expressed their anger over the acquittal of the priest.

It is also reported that one of the victims had even contacted the Vatican in order to meet Pope Francis and speak to him regarding the acquittal of the priest, but she was turned away.

However, this is not the first time a Catholic priest has been involved in sex crimes. Prior to Ataulfo, Father Marcial Maciel, the late founder of the Legionaries of Christ,was exposed in 2006 as living a double life as a paedophile, womaniser and drug addict, and the order went into Vatican receivership for several years.