Original article: Denuncias de acoso sexual y nexos con la derecha: la caída del gran maestro de la Gran Logia Mixta On Saturday, April 25, at the headquarters located at Catedral N°2091 in downtown Santiago, 118 masters from the Mixed Grand Lodge gathered to judge their highest authority, Wenceslao Leiva Catalán. Taking office on January 4, 2025, he faced internal proceedings due to a sexual harassment allegation that ultimately led to his removal. After nearly six hours of deliberation, the assembly voted for his dismissal: 77 votes in favor, 33 against, and two null votes.
However, the verdict was not the only setback. During the assembly, two additional allegations emerged, further complicating the accusations against the Masonic leader. The organization consists of 46 lodges from Arica to Temuco, in addition to its presence in Peru, where it operates five workshops in Lima and Arequipa.
However, the credibility of its leader has significantly diminished due to the revelations made during the internal trial. Sources consulted by Fast Check noted that the original complaint, which led to this gathering, came to light during the summer of 2025 and describes alleged non-consensual contact with the victim. In the assembly, the attorney for the complainant presented the charges to the 118 «brothers» and «sisters» present, in a session that lasted from noon until 6:30 PM, with only a brief intermission.
Nonetheless, it was the testimonies revealed during the deliberations that sealed Leiva’s fate. Two independent sources confirmed to the cited investigative medium that, during the trial, two additional alleged acts of sexual harassment were attributed to the now-former grand master. This was not the first time rumors of this nature had circulated.
One source, who requested anonymity, stated that such behaviors had been discussed internally within the lodge since at least 2022. «There exists a complicit silence to maintain the status quo and power structures that don’t change,» they told Fast Check. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the matter remains within Masonic jurisdiction.
There is no record that the case has been forwarded to ordinary justice. The organization also needs to determine whether to carry out Leiva’s permanent expulsion, a sanction known in Masonic terminology as «the marking. » What shocked those present was the support that the accused still commands: 33 votes against his removal, a figure described as «surprising» by sources given the weight of the accusations.
Wenceslao Leiva’s Ties to the Right and Denialism Wenceslao Leiva was born in Santiago on January 23, 1956, and is 70 years old, working as a taxi driver, according to information gathered within the Masonic community. He has been affiliated with the Mixed Grand Lodge for nearly two decades, but his profile extends beyond Masonic circles. Within the order, he is identified with right-wing sectors, and his social media presence reveals his critical stances towards leftist governments, particularly against the administration of former president Gabriel Boric.
One of his most controversial targets has been Senator Fabiola Campilla, who was a victim of state violence during the social uprising and lost the vision in both eyes while suffering neurological damage after being struck in the face by a tear gas canister while heading to work in November 2019. In October 2022, Leiva tweeted: «Madam, you already had your victim moment and used it to your advantage; today you have a salary that places you in a privileged position thanks to your accident. Your arguments now appear weakened because they are based on falsehoods and unclear situations.
Mame, be quiet and stop crying. » Fast Check reported that efforts were made to collect a statement from interim Grand Master Margarita Carvajal and that three attempts were made to contact Leiva, without receiving a response. The downfall of the grand master leaves more questions than answers, especially regarding the fate of the allegations and the effectiveness of internal justice in addressing institutional silence.