Updated

A prominent Chilean priest who was ordered by the Vatican to never again celebrate a public Mass as punishment for sexually abusing altar boys has been photographed defying the order.

Chile's top church leaders confirmed the Rev. Fernando Karadima's act of insubordination Friday and sent the case to the Vatican for investigation.

The photos were taken Dec. 4, but they were only released this week by Juan Carlos Cruz, one of Karadima's victims. Cruz says it's "a slap in the face" to Karadima's victims.

The timing of the photos' release appeared aimed at embarrassing both the current and former archbishops of Santiago, who are in Rome for Saturday's ceremony to name Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello a cardinal.