Legionaries of Christ priest charged with sexually abusing a minor

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican judge on Tuesday decided to charge a Legionaries of Christ priest investigated for repeatedly abusing a minor since 2004.

The case against priest Antonio Cabrera was agreed upon during a hearing held in the State of Mexico, where the state prosecutor's office requested the prosecution of the priest, who was charged with the alleged crime of "aggravated rape."

Cabrera was arrested on June 11 at Mexico City International Airport after arriving on a flight from Madrid.

The state prosecutor's office said in a statement that the detainee is being investigated for "his probable involvement in three separate incidents of rape against a minor victim."

One of the incidents reportedly occurred on May 16, 2004, when Cabrera allegedly subdued the victim to commit the assault. There is also a report from April 2007 regarding an alleged rape threat, and another from December 23, 2011, when he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim.

The Public Prosecutor's Office began investigating the case in December 2024 following reports of the incident.

#AProceso . The #EdomexProsecutor's Office obtained a link to the case against Antonio "N", investigated for his probable involvement in three different incidents of the crime of rape against a minor victim. The Public Ministry Agent provided evidence, which… pic.twitter.com/R7XjhUlBTF — Edomex Prosecutor's Office (@FiscaliaEdomex) June 18, 2025

During the hearing, the judge gave a three-month deadline for the completion of the supplementary investigation and ratified Cabrera's pretrial detention, which was ordered last week.

The Legionaries of Christ reaffirmed their commitment on Tuesday to collaborate with authorities throughout the legal process and expressed their absolute respect for the decisions of the justice system.

Five years ago, the congregation was embroiled in a scandal after one of its priests was accused of raping several girls at an elite Catholic school in the resort city of Cancún.

The Legionaries of Christ, which emerged in Mexico, were once the fastest-growing Catholic group in the Church, but suffered a credibility crisis beginning in 2009 due to allegations that their founder, Marcial Maciel, had sexually abused seminarians, fathered three children, and created a kind of cult to hide his double life.