The French bishops have postponed until their next meeting scheduled for March the presentation of their system intended for victims of sexual violence in adulthood, announced the president of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) Eric de Moulins-Beaufort on Sunday at Heavy.
“If the principle is acquired, we see that we still have work to do before deciding on the implementation methods”he said in his closing speech to the plenary assembly of the CEF, ensuring that “the five months that separate us from the March meeting will allow us to clarify the points that remain uncertain”.
In March, the bishops approved the principle of a system “listening and guidance” for these victims, which they hoped to be able to present as early as November. “I sense that victims will be disappointed and hurt by this delay and I assure them of our determination to move forward”affirmed Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort.
During their fall meeting the bishops “long debated” of “two ways” possible, with each “its advantages and disadvantages”he added, without giving details.
According to a source close to several bishops, this would involve either establishing a single centralized body or entrusting the mission to structures on the ground in the ecclesiastical provinces.
“We want to open a solid and lasting path to recognition and reparation” and that the priests implicated “take responsibility”assured Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort. This is why “the first path must be that of republican justice, if possible”with recourse also to the justice of the Church.
For cases where the author is dead or the facts are prescribed, “we cannot create a legal order different from that of our country”he noted.
There then remains the path of restorative justice but “we know that it is not free from criticism” et “we need to be sure of the competence” of the people responsible for this mission, and their ability to “make solid, unquestionable decisions”he stressed.
Returning to the revelations of sexual assault concerning Abbot Pierre, Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort underlined how much the bishops had been “upset and destabilized”.
Church archives “clearly show that his violent behavior towards women was known after his trip to the United States in 1955” and that “measures had been taken”. Then “all this ended up being forgotten”he added.
