French Bishops Conference Reviews Measures Against Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Over 300 participants gather in Lourdes to assess initial anti-abuse measures and identify future steps.
The French Bishops Conference (CEF) has convened a two-day meeting in Lourdes from March 31 to April 1, 2025, to evaluate the initial measures implemented to combat sexual violence within the Catholic Church.
This gathering, termed a "point d'étape," aims to reflect on various initiatives against sexual abuse while also identifying ongoing challenges that remain to be addressed.
The event is expected to attract more than 300 attendees, including victims of abuse and key stakeholders from both the Church and civil society who are involved in the fight against sexual violence.
The timing of this symposium coincides with the CEF's plenary assembly, which will commence on Tuesday evening, during which a new president is set to be elected.
One significant aspect of the meeting is its location near Bétharram, where recent revelations of sexual violence have drawn public attention to the Church's ongoing struggle with such issues.
This context amplifies the urgency of the discussions taking place at the Cité Saint-Pierre in Lourdes, where notable reminders of past abuses, including the controversial mosaics by Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik, continue to be displayed, though no longer illuminated during procession nights.
This review comes three and a half years after the publication of a report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase), which estimated that approximately 330,000 minors have been victims of sexual violence within the institution since the 1950s.
In response to these findings, the Church created two recognition bodies for victims and initiated nine working groups that released recommendations in March 2023.
A report detailing the progress of these initiatives is scheduled to be presented during the meeting.
This document, already available on the CEF's website, acknowledges a "real willingness for change" within the Church, while also recognizing that the process of reforming the culture surrounding abuse is complex and prolonged.
Among the measures enacted are an online course addressing the risks of misuse of religious teachings, the establishment of a "charter for the well-being and protection of minors," and tools for self-assessment for communities hosting minors.
Despite these advancements, the report advises vigilance regarding existing resistances, blind spots, and potential retreats from the reform process.
A highlighted session of the symposium will feature a panel discussion with Jean-Marc Sauvé, president of the Ciase, alongside Marie Derain de Vaucresson and Antoine Garapon, who lead the two reparative bodies founded in 2021. These entities offer restorative measures and financial compensation, potentially reaching €60,000 per victim.
Since their inception, the Inirr (National Independent Recognition and Reparations Instance) has received nearly 1,600 claims, while the CRR (Recognition and Reparations Commission) has been approached by 1,065 individuals.
In related developments, Derain de Vaucresson noted an uptick in activity for the Inirr in February 2025, attributing this increase to intensified media scrutiny surrounding sexual abuse in the Church, particularly in connection with the Bétharram scandal and revelations involving Abbot Pierre.
Simultaneously, the organization Mouv'Enfants, comprised of victims of sexual violence, plans to hold a mock trial on March 31 in a hotel in Lourdes, accusing the Church and the State of crimes against humanity, thus highlighting the broader implications of these discussions.
This gathering, termed a "point d'étape," aims to reflect on various initiatives against sexual abuse while also identifying ongoing challenges that remain to be addressed.
The event is expected to attract more than 300 attendees, including victims of abuse and key stakeholders from both the Church and civil society who are involved in the fight against sexual violence.
The timing of this symposium coincides with the CEF's plenary assembly, which will commence on Tuesday evening, during which a new president is set to be elected.
One significant aspect of the meeting is its location near Bétharram, where recent revelations of sexual violence have drawn public attention to the Church's ongoing struggle with such issues.
This context amplifies the urgency of the discussions taking place at the Cité Saint-Pierre in Lourdes, where notable reminders of past abuses, including the controversial mosaics by Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik, continue to be displayed, though no longer illuminated during procession nights.
This review comes three and a half years after the publication of a report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase), which estimated that approximately 330,000 minors have been victims of sexual violence within the institution since the 1950s.
In response to these findings, the Church created two recognition bodies for victims and initiated nine working groups that released recommendations in March 2023.
A report detailing the progress of these initiatives is scheduled to be presented during the meeting.
This document, already available on the CEF's website, acknowledges a "real willingness for change" within the Church, while also recognizing that the process of reforming the culture surrounding abuse is complex and prolonged.
Among the measures enacted are an online course addressing the risks of misuse of religious teachings, the establishment of a "charter for the well-being and protection of minors," and tools for self-assessment for communities hosting minors.
Despite these advancements, the report advises vigilance regarding existing resistances, blind spots, and potential retreats from the reform process.
A highlighted session of the symposium will feature a panel discussion with Jean-Marc Sauvé, president of the Ciase, alongside Marie Derain de Vaucresson and Antoine Garapon, who lead the two reparative bodies founded in 2021. These entities offer restorative measures and financial compensation, potentially reaching €60,000 per victim.
Since their inception, the Inirr (National Independent Recognition and Reparations Instance) has received nearly 1,600 claims, while the CRR (Recognition and Reparations Commission) has been approached by 1,065 individuals.
In related developments, Derain de Vaucresson noted an uptick in activity for the Inirr in February 2025, attributing this increase to intensified media scrutiny surrounding sexual abuse in the Church, particularly in connection with the Bétharram scandal and revelations involving Abbot Pierre.
Simultaneously, the organization Mouv'Enfants, comprised of victims of sexual violence, plans to hold a mock trial on March 31 in a hotel in Lourdes, accusing the Church and the State of crimes against humanity, thus highlighting the broader implications of these discussions.
