The Costa Rican Catholic church has relieved a nun of her duties over the alleged sexual abuse of two young girls.
A church probe is to be carried out in parallel to the legal process, Sixto Varela, pastor and press officer of the San Joaquin de Flores diocese, told local media.
On August 30, a children's advocacy agency alleged the nun had sexually molested and raped two girls aged three and six at the home in the province of Heredia.
After the claim, the 13 girls in the home were moved to other facilities.
The sister -- identified by the La Nacion newspaper as being of Nicaraguan origin -- was transferred to the capital and banned from wearing a habit and participating in religious activities of the congregation she was placed in.
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Prosecutors, meanwhile, announced that an investigation of the alleged abuse was in a preliminary phase.
Spokeswoman Tatiana Vargas said no one has been charged as authorities probed the matter.
The home where the alleged abuse took place opened in 1998 and received funding from the state, which was suspended in the wake of the allegations.
