The family of a Catholic priest killed when a heavy crucifix fell during Mass is calling for an investigation into how it became detached and whether anyone could be held responsible.
Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari was leading a service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Saturday, October 17, when the wooden crucifix came loose from the wall behind him and struck his head.
Although police initially classified his death as accidental, relatives want authorities to establish precisely what happened and examine how the cross had been secured.
Family calls for answers after the fatal collapse
According to Ecuadorian newspaper Extra, Sánchez’s relatives raised their concerns as the family gathered in his home city of Cuenca for his wake.
Patricio León, a relative of the priest, said accepting the loss through faith should not prevent an examination of the circumstances.
