Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), or Sodalitium of Christian Life is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. It was founded in Lima, Peru, by Luis Fernando Figari on 8 December 1971. It acquired its present canonical form when Pope John Paul II gave his Pontifical approval on 8 July 1997. The Sodalitium was the first male religious society in Peru to receive papal approval. By 1997, there were Sodalit communities in several countries.
Flame Emblem of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae | |
| Formation | 8 December 1971 |
|---|---|
| Type | Society of Apostolic Life |
| Purpose | Evangelization of Culture |
| Headquarters | General House, Calle Dos 545, Urb. Monterrico Norte, Lima 41, Perú |
Region served | Worldwide |
Official language | English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian |
| Leader | Superior General, José David Correa González |
Main organ | General Assembly |
Parent organization | Catholic Church |
| Website | Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana (español) Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (inglés) Sodalício de Vida Cristã (portugués) |
The Sodalitium is composed of consecrated laymen and priests, called "Sodalits," who live in community as brothers and make commitments—not religious vows as such—of celibacy and obedience.
Being recognised as a lay society of apostolic life of pontifical right, the Sodalitium is under the authority of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the Holy See. This is the first lay society of apostolic life to be recognised with Pontifical approval.
There have been accusations of brainwashing of young people, and of elitism, conservatism, and authoritarianism; and accusations, supported by a report commissioned by the SCV, of sexual abuse by founder Luis Fernando Figari and other Sodalites. There have also been allegations about Figari's right-wing and phalangist activism in his youth. In 2020, Peruvian cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno said that the Vatican had been asked to dissolve the Sodalitium, and stated his belief that Sodalitium Christianae Vitae and any other religious movement mired in sexual abuse should be dissolved.