Vasilije Kačavenda

Vasilije Kačavenda (born 19 December 1938) is a former Serbian Orthodox bishop from Bosnia who served as the head of the Tuzla-Zvornik diocese until his dismissal due to a torrent of child sex^[1][2] abuse claims.^[3][4] During the Bosnian War of the early 1990s, he endorsed violence against Bosniak civilians.^[5][6][7] Kačavenda also had close ties with many Serbian nationalists including Ratko Mladić and is a nationalist himself.^[8][9][10] He has lived in Bijeljina since 1992.

2012–13 child sex abuse scandal

In November 2012, videos showing Kačavenda in sexual^[11] acts with underage boys^[12][13] were first given to his church's synod. Kačavenda submitted his resignation on 9 November, claiming "serious health problems".^[14][15][16] Although not long after, he changed his mind and stayed on his post. When videos showing him performing oral sex on an underage boy were made public in April 2013, he said that he would fight the slanderous allegations against him, but announced his resignation as bishop on 22 April, which was accepted immediately.^[17][18][19] He was dismissed of all duties on 29 May 2013.^[20]

Serbian police in Belgrade arrested two men on 11 April 2013 for attempting to sell video showing Bishop Kačavenda in sex acts with four underage boys.^[21][22] The videos length was about an hour and a half. One of the men who was arrested was a deacon in Kačavenda's church and accused the bishop of pedophilia^[23] and stated that Kačavenda attempted to kiss him on the neck and "private parts of the body", which was eventually the reason why he left the church.

Health problems

Kačavenda underwent surgery in Belgrade, a day after suffering a stroke in Bijeljina on 20 September 2013.^[24][25][26] He was again hospitalized less than two months later.^[27]

Honors

In the midst of child sex abuse scandal, Kačavenda received one of the highest decoration of the Republika Srpska entity, Order of the Republika Srpska, from its president, Milorad Dodik.^[28]

References