Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), or Sodalitium of Christian Life is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, according to the Code of Canon Law which governs the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. 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.
The Sodalitium is composed of consecrated laymen and priests, called "Sodalits," who live in community as brothers, live the evangelical counsels through perpetual commitments of celibacy and obedience, as well as the communication of goods.
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 the Vatican was considering whether to dissolve or reform the Sodalitium.
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