On July 17, 2024, Emmaüs published an investigation in which 7 women accused Abbé Pierre of sexual assault. On August 25, the Diocese of Grenoble announced that it had discovered a letter from an alleged victim, dating from 1965, in its archives.
New development in the Abbé Pierre business. On August 25, 2024, the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne announced that it had discovered a letter from an alleged victim in its archives, dating back to 1965, according to exclusive information from Dauphiné Libre.
After learning on July 17 of the allegations of sexual assault against Abbot Pierre, members of the Isère diocese reportedly searched its archives for potential testimony, according to the statements of the Bishop of Grenoble-Vienne, Monsignor Jean-Marc. Eichenne.
A letter from 1965
The letter discovered by the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne recounts events that allegedly took place in 1965 following a conference held by Abbot Pierre. The latter then signed his last book. A woman of Belgian nationality “found herself among the last to receive this signature”, Monsignor Jean-Marc Eychenne reveals in an exclusive interview with Dauphiné Libéré. “This letter says that Abbot Pierre allegedly made inappropriate gestures towards him.”
Testimony left unanswered
The letter in question was originally addressed to the provincial of the Capuchins, the community to which Abbot Pierre belonged. The alleged victim would then have been redirected by the provincial to the diocese of Grenoble. “The person has not contacted us,” declared the bishop of Grenoble-Vienne. “So I didn't pay much attention to that testimony at the time.” The publication of the Emmaüs-commissioned investigation on July 17 brought to light this decades-old testimony.
“The Church is not as safe as it used to be”
Today, the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne ensures that it works closely with the prosecutor by forwarding to him any reports of sexual violence within the Church. “The Church is no longer as safe as it used to be,” declares the Bishop of Grenoble-Vienne. “We still have things to implement so that it becomes a safe house,” he concludes.