AFRICA/DJIBOUTI - “We are trying to solve the matter and obtain Fr Sandro's release” says Catholic Bishop of Djibout commenting the priest's detention

Djibouti (Agenzia Fides)-“We are trying to solve the matter and obtain Fr Sandro's release” said Bishop Giorgio Bertin of Djibout diocese whose vicar general Rev Sandro De Pretis has been in prison since 28 October although not charged with any precise crime.
“I am convinced of Fr Sandro's innocence, also because in April, when there were various rumours about him, I made a personal investigation into the case and nothing which could confirm those accusations emerged” the Bishop of Djibouti told Fides.
Rev Sandro De Pretis is detained awaiting trial. According to the weekly publication of the diocese of Trent, Vita Trentina “the idea of his involvement in a network of paedophilia, simply because of series of photographs of children found in his possession, is quite ridiculous. The photographs are the same ones which Fr Sandro, brought to our Vita Trentina offices at the beginning of the Summer for our photo archives which is poor in original images from the Horn of Africa”.
“Fr Sandro is a very active person and this may have upset certain people” Bishop Bertin suggests. “The episode is based on accusations made by an association expelled from Caritas years ago, with which a judiciary dispute which lasted 10 years was recently solved. I am confident that when the situation is explained Fr Sandro's innocence will be recognised” Bishop Bertin concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2007 righe 17 parole 238)