The congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools asked, Friday July 24, for forgiveness from former students who were victims of sexual assault or physical violence in establishments of the Catholic network of Lasallians and announced the launch of an audit entrusted to an independent commission.
“We are well aware that no words are equal to the evil committed. However, it is up to us to carry it with seriousness and therefore in the name of the religious family of the brothers of the Christian schools in France, we ask forgiveness from the victims”, write in a press release the 30 Brothers administrators of the Christian schools of France and Europe, assuring that they feel “shame for the acts committed in the past by some of our colleagues”. This congregation founded by Jean-Baptiste de La Salle today runs 150 private establishments under contract.
A few days before a new governance team takes office on August 1, they also announce that “an in-depth study” will be carried out by “an ad hoc commission of which no brother will be a member” to “understand how brothers were able to attack students within our establishments with impunity and, for some of them, to reoffend. »
Recruitment of an expert
The congregation’s lawyer, Matthias Pujos, also indicated that a lay expert specializing in violence prevention would soon be recruited.
“If we can participate (in this commission, Editor’s note) that’s very good,” reacted Philippe Chemineau, president of a collective of former students of Lasallian schools which has revealed since February acts of sexual and/or physical violence attributed to religious or lay teachers, most of whom have died. Committed between the 1950s and the beginning of the 1990s, these facts are now prescribed.
The excuses, however, remain insufficient for Philippe Chemineau, who claims to have today identified some 300 victims. “We want them to truly embark on full reparation for all the trauma and harm suffered by the victims,” he declared, recalling that the collective is calling for the creation of a fund of 100 million euros to compensate the victims.
The congregation specifies in its press release that it has set up a listening cell since 2014 which has recorded 83 referrals. According to Me Matthias Pujos, 78 cases have already given rise to compensation, for a total amount of nearly 2.8 million euros, in accordance with the recommendations of the Recognition and Reparation Commission (CRR).
