Abbé Pierre is the target of a series of testimonies from women about sexual violence committed between the 1950s and 2000s, some of which may amount to rape or the targeting of minors.
“At least a few bishops” knew “from 1955-1957” of Abbot Pierre's “serious behavior” towards women, he said in a newspaper column on Monday, September 16. The worldthe president of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) Eric de Moulins-Beaufort. “It is now established that, from 1955-1957, at least some bishops knew that Abbot Pierre had serious behavior towards women,” the CEF president points out, recalling that “measures were taken, including psychiatric treatment,” and the appointment. of a deputy (known as “socius”) whose founder Emmaüs visibly “tried to deceive” the “supervision”.
The church has opened its archives
These measures represent “a strong reaction to the ways of doing things at the time”, Mr de Moulins-Beaufort points out. Furthermore, in this text, he “reaffirms the work of the Church in France for the truth to be established on acts of aggression and sexual violence, as well as on acts of spiritual influence, and to review its operations.” Abbé Pierre is covered by a series of women's testimonies regarding sexual violence committed between 1950 and 2000, some of which could amount to rape or targeting minors. Emmaus launched a commission of inquiry and the Church opened its archives.
“He had to be monitored because he was dangerous”
In his column, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort “respectfully expresses his desire that the Vatican undertake a study of its archives and say what the Holy See knew and when it knew it,” following the Pope's comments on Friday that the Vatican was aware of the allegations of sexual violence targeting Abbot Pierre, at least since his death in 2007. The Archbishop of Reims also points out that “we knew, at least in certain circles of Emmaus, Abbot Pierre being still alive, he had to be pursued because he was dangerous to women who approached him.
Noting that numerous films and books have been devoted to Abbé Pierre, that he was even called “the favorite personality of the French” in the 1990s, Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort points out that no victim wanted to talk about the era. “Now I do” through several listening cells or reparation bodies established by the Church. “It's a huge social advance,” assures the clergy, who promises Abbé Pierre's victims “his determination to make sure their words have an effect.”