Pedocriminality in the Church: the bishops end their debates and initiate the reparation phase

Published on : 11/07/2021 – 15:59

The Catholic bishops meeting in Lourdes ended their debates on Sunday, November 7, on the eve of announcing a series of measures to fight against the scourge of child crime described by the Sauvé report, in particular on the file of reparation for victims.

Since the episcopate on Friday recognized its responsibility in sexual crimes committed by priests and religious and their “systemic” dimension since 1950, the words “reparation” and “compensation” are no longer taboo.

“We are in the perspective of a process of reparation” with “a work of welcoming victims, listening, recognition of what they have suffered, mediation and reparation, with a financial dimension”, explained to the press Luc Crépy, bishop of Versailles and president of the Council for the prevention and fight against pedophilia of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF).

Individualized compensation

A first point is clear: the compensation will be individualized. The bishops agree to examine “the damage” caused to each victim, told AFP Luc Ravel, archbishop of Strasbourg.

Among the options studied is, according to several sources, the Belgian model. In this country, “four levels of compensation, ranging from 2,500 to 25,000 euros” have been defined, noted the report of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase).

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The amounts retained by the Church will have to be harmonized with those that will be set up for the victims of religious of congregations or institutes. The question is on the menu of the plenary assembly of the Conference of Religious Men and Women of France (Corref), which represents them, in mid-November.

The compensation envisaged by the prelates should concern people who are victims of prescribed acts, but not only: all requests will be honored, assured the spokesperson for the CEF, Hugues de Woillemont.

As announced in March, a national body will take care of examining the requests.

The name of its president – a female magistrate specializing in child protection, according to a source familiar with the matter – is to be announced on Monday. It will then compose its commission.

“If we have to sell real estate, we will sell”

Another question to be decided: should the compensation fund created this summer be supplemented, with contributions from the clergy, by donations from the faithful, as wished so far by the CEF? Or should it be financed solely “from the patrimony of the aggressors and the Church of France”, as the Sauvé report recommends?

“It must be the institution that is amputated, it is obvious to me”, says Archbishop Luc Ravel.

This fund has received a few tens of thousands of euros to date and hopes to initially reach 5 million.

According to an internal source at the episcopate, the bishops may not prohibit donations from the faithful, but avoid making a public appeal. And “if we have to sell real estate, we will sell,” said another bishop on condition of anonymity.

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The episcopate is also considering a “symbolic gesture”, says Luc Ravel. “The question of selling the CEF building [avenue de Breteuil à Paris, ndlr] has sprung, “he added, without further details.

330,000 victims

The big unknown remains the number of requests.

The Sauvé report estimated at 330,000 the number of people over the age of 18 who have been subjected to sexual violence since 1950, when they were minors, by clerics, religious or people in connection with the Church (supervisors boarding schools, teachers …).

How many precisely will do the process? Difficult to say. All the more so as if some victims claim compensation in order to be able to “repair themselves”, others – who have often severed all ties with the Church – do not feel the need.

The bishops should also commit to improving the listening cells for victims in the dioceses and to setting up a “risk map”, as recommended by the Ciase.

While collectives of the faithful demand more responsibilities for the laity and women, the CEF will indicate on Monday how it wishes to open this project.

It should also confirm, with the Vatican’s consent, the forthcoming establishment of an interdiocesan canonical penal tribunal, made up of lay people and priests.

The CEF has promised “strong gestures” as well as a “precise timetable”.