Family demands probe after priest hit by falling cross during Mass in Guayaquil
Relatives want prosecutors to probe how the large wooden cross fell and whether negligence played a role.
The family of Catholic priest Patricio Alfredo Sanchez Molinari is calling for a formal probe after he died when a large wooden cross fell on him during Mass.
Sanchez Molinari collapsed on Saturday, 17 October, while celebrating Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Guayaquil, when the cross mounted on the wall behind the altar detached and struck him in the head.
Relatives want answers, prosecutors urged to act
Although Ecuadorian police have described the incident as an accident, the priest’s relatives have expressed doubts about the circumstances and are seeking an independent investigation into how the cross came to fall and whether anyone bears responsibility for the tragedy.
Local specialists interviewed by media have said prosecutors should consider whether there is any criminal liability for negligence. They recommend officials verify the method used to affix the cross, identify who installed it and determine whether appropriate safety measures were put in place.
The family’s request now centers on obtaining official findings about the installation and maintenance of the crucifix, and on establishing whether structural or procedural failures contributed to the fatal accident.
Photo: Cava (design) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
