A Peruvian-based Catholic movement has publicly distanced itself from its founder and asked for Vatican intervention in the wake of accusations of sexual, psychological and physical abuse of members. The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Fellowship of Christian Life) asked forgiveness from the alleged victims, those who had denounced the alleged abuse and were ignored, members of the organisation and others associated with it. Alessandro Moroni Llabrés, the organisation’s superior general, said: “We consider Luis Fernando Figari guilty of the abuses of which he is accused and declare him persona non grata for our organisation, which totally deplores and condemns his behaviour.” The Sodalitium had asked the Vatican to order Figari’s “immediate separation from our community and end his unsustainable spiritual retreat in our facilities”. Figari resigned as head of the movement in 2010 and has been living in a Sodalitium house in Rome, although immigration records show that he has visited Peru regularly since then. The statement came five months after two Peruvian journalists, Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz, published the book Mitad Monjes, Mitad Soldados (Half Monks, Half Soldiers), alleging abuse by Figari and other Sodalitium leaders. Salinas is a former member of the movement. Mr Moroni said: “The recent months have been very difficult for the Sodalitium family ... they have brought us face to face with an unfortunate past that returned to the present like an earthquake”. He added that the Sodalitium is cooperating with investigations by the Vatican and Peruvian prosecutors.