As allegations surface, art is hidden

Knights of Columbus cover mosaics made by artist accused of abuse

- NICOLE WINFIELD

The Knights of Columbus, an influential Catholic charitable organization, announced Thursday that it will cover up its mosaics made by a famous ex-Jesuit artist accused of abusing women in a sign of solidarity with victims of abuse.

The world's largest Roman Catholic fraternal group said the organization would for now place fabric over the mosaics at its shrine in Washington, and at a chapel at its headquarters in New Haven, Conn. A permanent plaster covering "may be in order," depending on the outcome of the Vatican's investigation into the Rev. Marko Rupnik, the group said in a statement.

Rupnik, whose mosaics grace some of the most important and visited Catholic shrines around the world, has been accused by over 20 women of psychological, spiritual and sexual abuses over decades.

The scandal about his alleged abuse has grown steadily, and implicated Pope Francis, since the Vatican and his Jesuit order long ignored the women's complaints until their stories were published in late 2022 in Italian blogs and newspapers.