#3(EN). FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK OF "JACQUESPINTOR.COM": LGBTI+ CLERIC SUPPORTED BY BISHOP SUES A JOURNALIST
At the heart of this uproar is Vicente Jesús López-Brea Urbán, a cleric amid secular transition and the present public health director for the Calatayud region, whose actions have sparked controversy across diverse circles. The ongoing legal battle focuses on Picazo's alleged breach of a judicial interim measure, with prosecutors demanding stern penalties including a €14,600 fine, €50,000 for civil damages, court costs, and a 365-day detention in lieu of payment. [This trial has been postponed]
Deeper Legal Context and Courtroom Dynamics
Attention also shifts towards a primary legal proceeding set for September, which delves into accusations against honor, personal privacy, and alleged homophobia. These charges are rooted in Picazo's probing into López-Brea's activities, notably his patronage of liberal gay clubs and purported alcohol dependency. The impending trial seeks two years of imprisonment for Picazo, alongside €100,000 in damages and a €30,000 fine, with attempts already made to secure these amounts from his financial and personal assets.
Additionally, a lawsuit has targeted Reverend López-Brea's former boyfriend, seemingly on the basis that he might have been a source for Picazo. This raises alarm over potential breaches of civil freedoms and the sanctity of journalistic endeavour.
These legal proceedings do not merely highlight the friction between press freedom and individual privacy rights; they underscore wider concerns over civil liberties and ethical considerations both within the broader society and the ecclesiastical domain. The case accentuates the critical need for transparency, accountability of bishops and judicial proceedings, and the inherent challenges journalists confront in illuminating issues of public significance.
From the corridors of “gloria.tv”, we reiterate our staunch support for Jordi Picazo and the unwavering principle of press freedom. The unfolding legal saga accentuates the perils faced by journalists and their informants in today's landscape, stressing the imperative to safeguard the liberties that underpin journalistic and civil rights discourse.
We encourage the media community and the public at large to monitor these proceedings attentively, reflecting on their significant repercussions for societal values, the principle of free expression, and the ethical standards governing institutions. Documentation pertinent to the case is available for dissemination.
Press Inquiries: jacquespintor@gmail.com
Direct Line to Jordi Picazo: +34 670 955 194
References:
For insights into the ongoing legal discourse, refer to the daily paper the “Heraldo de Aragón’s” piece, "Trial for assaulting the honor of a priest from Jaca on a blog."
Details on López-Brea’s controversial appointment as the managing director of public health in Guadalajara, overseeing ten centers and the Ernest Lluch hospital, are detailed in Heraldo.es’s report, "Spanish Public Health Service appoints a 30-year-old priest as management director of the Calatayud sector." An appointment that breaches Canon Law, made possible through the support of the ex-bishop of Huesca-Jaca, Julián Ruiz Martorell, and his influential connections within the Aragon Autonomous Community.
Further exploration of Jordi Picazo’s work, including his articles on "Politics, sin, and power - The rise of a controversial priest in public administration" and "Accusations of sexual promiscuity of the Spanish clergy shake the diocese of Huesca-Jaca," can be found at the prominent latin American daily “Noticias de Venezuela y el Mundo - EL NACIONAL”, following this link, and this other link here.
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