French bishops admit “responsibility” of the Church in cases of pedophilia

This friday in France, bishops recognized the “institutional responsibility” from Catholic Church in the sexual abuse of minors, one of the recommendations of a devastating report that estimated the number of victims at more than 216,000 since 1950.

Gathered in Lourdes (south) for their annual meeting, the prelates decided “recognize the institutional responsibility of the Church” and the “systemic dimension”Of these attacks, announced the president of the Episcopal Conference, Éric de Moulins-Beaufort.

“This responsibility implies a duty of justice and reparation.“Added the Archbishop of Reims, for whom the sexual abuse of minors took place for a”general context of functioning, mentalities and practices within the Church”.

In October, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase) estimated that some 216,000 minors were victims of priests and religious in France between 1950 and 2020, a figure that rises to 330,000 if employees of religious institutions are counted.

The Ciase report, at the request of the episcopate and another religious organization, also assured that there were “between 2,900 and 3,200 pedophiles” among the 115,000 priests or religious registered during those seven decades and that 80% of their victims were boys from 10 to 13 years.

France followed in the footsteps of Australia, Ireland, the United States and Germany, where the scope of this drama that has shaken the Catholic Church for decades, but which faces reluctance to be clarified in other countries such as Spain, was investigated.

The revelation of this report, after more than two years of work, shook France. The president of the Episcopal Conference asked the victims for “forgiveness” and even Pope Francis expressed his “immense pain” and “shame”Before the scope of the scandal.

But the controversy continued after controversial statements by the episcopate assuring that the secrecy of confession is above the law, even in the case of abuse of minors. Another sensitive issue is how to finance eventual compensation.

“Excess of sacred power”

The report prepared by the commission chaired by former senior official Jean-Marc Sauvé is part of the annual meeting of French bishops at the famous Marian pilgrimage center, which began Tuesday and is due to conclude early next week.

During their first day, the 120 bishops listened behind closed doors to five victims, such as Jean-Luc Souveton, 45, who asked them to “that the responsibility of the Church be officially recognized and pronounced”, As he told AFP.

“The power of the priests should no longer be considered sacred”Said Véronique Garnier, another victim present in Lourdes on Tuesday night, for whom“excess sacred power opens the way”To these abuses.

Among its 45 recommendations, the Ciase urged the Church to recognize its “systemic”, social and civil responsibility in the events and to implement mechanisms to recognize victims such as public ceremonies, masses or memorials.

To finance compensation for victims, the commission called for discarding donations from the faithful and doing so instead “from the heritage of the aggressors and the Church of France”. The bishops also have this issue on the agenda.

The prelates must pronounce on various matters to be determined on Monday, at the end of the meeting. On Saturday, a “gesture of penance”In Lourdes, where according to tradition the Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 to a 14-year-old adolescent.