Church took no action against priest who 'drugged and raped women', victims say

Francisco Javier Cuenca was detained on suspicion of raping four women

The Spanish Catholic Church has not responded to the accusations brought against the priest, who reportedly raped several women after drugging them with liquid ecstasy, his ex-girlfriend claims.

Francisco Javier Cuenca was detained in Malaga last month and remanded in custody on suspicion of raping four women. < /p>

According to police sources, the priest took advantage of church-related parties and trips to spike women's drinks with liquid ecstasy before performing sex acts on them.

He allegedly stole their underwear as trophies and is suspected of violating the privacy of several of his alleged victims after investigators discovered photographs and videos of them taken by the priest.

A woman who claimed to be his ex-girlfriend said she reported «Father Fran,» as parishioners called him, and handed over a hard drive containing about 3,000 photographs and videos of women in sexual positions or being sexually assaulted.

She said she discovered the hard drive by accident after she began living with a priest in the autonomous city of Melilla last year, despite his vow of celibacy.

Before going to police, the woman told investigators that she had tried to inform church authorities in Melilla and Malaga, home to the bishopric to which the North African enclave of Melilla belongs in the church hierarchy, about his alleged behavior.

Mr Reza told LaSexta TV that he had passed on the information to his superiors in the office of the Bishop of Malaga.

The Church did not take any disciplinary action against Father Fran, who was later transferred at his own request to the parish. on the Spanish mainland near Malaga.

His lover came from Melilla to visit him in early 2023, but when she suspected that he had initiated a new relationship, she contacted the Bishop of Malaga and asked for a meeting, which never took place. provided.

Eventually, since the Church did not take any disciplinary action, the woman reported Father Fran to the Melilla police, providing the images as evidence.

Investigators made contact. with the alleged victims saying they did not remember being attacked.

The Telegraph asked Spain's Catholic Synod to comment on allegations that church officials were aware of the allegations against the arrested priest and did not act no measures. action.