By Tim Rohr
Our friend, who fantasizes that he is our "nightmare," Lucio from Italy (but not really), is back. In a comment on BREAK FREE, LUIS. IT'S TIME, Lucky Lucio goes on about what a wonderful chap Bishop Camillo Ballin was and how he was so well-respected in the Vatican, etc., etc., etc.
Ballin, as you will recall, is the bishop who verbally slapped Chuck White for asking what Luis Camacho was doing in his diocese when Luis was an incardinated priest in Guam. Ballin snapped back: "He is now my priest."
You can see what Lucio has to say about it here and my reply here, if you care to. However, since Lucio wants to talk tough about Ballin, I thought now would be a good time to reshare Ballin's official announcement, dated June 25, 2016, to the whole Vicarate of Northern Arabia, for which Ballin was the Vicar, that Luis was absolutely innocent and a victim of our "lies and calumnies."
You can read the full letter here. The following is the relevant part:
...I was saddened receiving information that lately some individuals have spread, both in writing and by word of mouth, lies and calumnies about one of our priests who has served in our Church. In fact, some accusations against Fr. Luis Camacho have been divulged among our people. Because of this, in order to clarify the lack of any foundations for such rumors and accusations, even the Holy See has been forced to start an inquiry.
The subsequent deep and thorough investigation has reached the absolute certainty that “there is not a semblance of truth (fumus veri facti) to the accusation” made against Fr. Luis.
Contrast Ballin's June 25, 2016 letter with the letter from Luis' real bishop, Archbishop Ryan Jimenez, dated Dec. 11, 2025:
The Archdiocese of Agana has received official notification that on September 19, 2025, the Congresso of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith completed its review of the case involving Rev. Luis Venancio B. Camacho, who was ordained a priest for our Archdiocese on November 9, 2013. The Congresso confirmed that Mr. Camacho was found guilty of delicta graviora cum minore - grave offenses involving a person under the age of eighteen- and it upheld the penalty previously imposed: dismissal from the clerical state.
The Dicastery’s review included the 2015 arrest of then-Fr. Camacho, the canonical investigation that followed, and a subsequent petition for recourse that he himself submitted in an effort to have the penalties removed and to be restored to priestly ministry.
Following the canonical investigation, a Penal Decree was issued on May 6, 2025, finding Rev. Camacho guilty of delicts contra sextum, meaning violations of the Sixth Commandment (sexual misconduct) committed with a minor, and imposing the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state.
Yet, in 2016, Ballin told us that the Holy See had cleared Camacho with "absolute certainty." Once again, none of this makes any sense unless you know who you're dealing with: THE NEOCATS.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteYour post is very well laid out. But there is also a key letter from the Archdiocese that you failed to cite, the press release dated 05/07/2024. I am familiar with the circumstances to a limited degree. But I worry that in an effort to support his beloved bishop, Lucio just might try to say that there was a previous ruling, but the case was only forced to be reopened at the insistence of Fr Luis’ accuser (me), or by those who are trying to persecute the NCW. Believe me when I say, I have heard this from some people on Guam, more than I expected.
Most people probably don’t know I am related to Fr Luis. I was very proud to participate in his ordination mass, and I fully supported his ministry for Guam. He was the first Chamorro priest ordained from the Guam seminary. That’s why, on March 17, 2015, when I was made aware of Fr Luis’ arrest and the circumstances that were relayed to me, I faced a huge decision. Do I ignore the information given me? Or do I take my legal requirement to report what I was told, and file a report with CPS and the Archdiocese. I’d like to say it was a tough decision, but it really wasn’t. Since by law I am a mandated reporter, it was a law that had to be followed. So I filed my report before 8am the next day. The hard part was living with the consequences, because that part of my family now refuses to speak with me and my wife. I was really hoping that an investigation would exonerate him, but my job was not to judge or investigate. My only job was to file a report and participate in the investigation if asked.
So, Lucio, save your time. And for all those who thought I was fabricating stories to get to Fr Luis, or make the NCW look bad, that just is not true.
Now to add one more bit of proof that Bishop Ballin’s letter was not just misleading, but completely false, I also refer you to a press release from the Chancery Office in Guam dated May 7, 2024, at the time when Fr Luis reappeared after a nine year absence.
The fourth paragraph from the Chancery states:
“Rome opened a canonical investigation on Father Luis following the incident in 2015. Though the Vatican has not been able to make a canonical ruling due to insufficient evidence, the case is not closed. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith informed then Archbishop Michael Byrnes on Nov. 18, 2022 that the case is filed in the archives at this time as it is not possible to proceed with any canonical action.”
The truth is Rome did initiate an investigation on a timely basis. The charges were indeed very serious. But Rome was never able to reach a conclusion because the main witness (the accused) fled Guam, and the government agencies absolutely refused to provide a copy of the arrest report to the Church.”
So, the June 25,2016 statement by Bishop Ballin is a proven bold but false statement. Recall what he said in that notice on his letterhead with his official seal attached:
“The subsequent deep and thorough investigation has reached the absolute certainty that “there is not a semblance of truth (fumus veri facti) to the accusation” made against Fr. Luis.”
The actual truth is the investigation languished for lack of evidence. Thank goodness the Vatican archived the information it had just in case the investigation should ever be renewed. And then in 2024/2025 that’s exactly what happened. And a finding of fact was finally reached; an independent penal process in Australia was concluded; and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith fielded an appeal by Fr Luis, and then reconfirmed the original finding of fact and the penalty.
So Lucio, do you still place credence in Bishop Ballin’s letter of 06/25/2016? I do not wish to cast aspersions on anyone, especially those who have died, but I feel compelled to make sure the truth is heard, and not bent or manipulated.
Deacon Steve Martinez