See you at the next plenary assembly. Meeting in Lourdes from November 5 to 10, the bishops of France postponed until next March the task of deciding the question of supporting adult victims of diocesan priests. In his closing speech in front of all his counterparts, Monsignor Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, Archbishop of Reims and president of the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF), declared that “if the principle is acquired”he's staying “still more work before deciding on the implementation methods”, after two working sessions of the prelates this Thursday and Friday in their hemicycle.
Already, in March 2023, during the previous plenary assembly, a working group chaired by Corinne Boilley, former deputy general secretary of the CEF, presented its recommendations to the bishops. The Conference then announced “an ad hoc device” which would be presented for this November meeting. We will therefore have to wait several months again for these victims, who are largely forgotten by the Church's efforts in France (only minor victims of diocesan priests can receive reparations).
Justice restaurative
“I sense that victims will be disappointed and hurt by this delay and I assure them of our determination to move forward”apologized Eric de Moulins-Beaufort. The president of the CEF assured that these five months will make it possible to clarify certain points concerning “two ways (…) each with its advantages and disadvantages” which were presented during these fall meetings.
The archbishop also mentioned the question of restorative justice for these victims, in accordance with the conclusions of the working group of Mr.me Boilley, while recognizing that she “is not exempt from criticism from victims”. “We must be sure of the competence and ability of the people to whom we could entrust this mission to do it in a clear and reassuring manner for the victims”he added. The question of financial compensation for adult victims will arise in particular. The working group's report considered that it should not necessarily be systematic, but certain voices on the side of victims and reparation bodies would not consider this system serious if this aspect were directly excluded.
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However, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort reaffirmed in his speech the commitment “in a determined manner” of the Church of France against sexual violence within it. “Progressively, we are doing what we said, we are responding to the recommendations that were made to us”he assured.
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