Former priest Bernard Preynat was found dead at his home in Saint-Étienne in the morning this Sunday, June 23, according to information from BFM Lyon , confirmed by the prosecution. An investigation into the causes of death has been opened. “even if there is nothing suspicious on his body, which will be examined by a forensic doctor within a few days”, said the prosecution.
He was sentenced, in 2020, to five years in prison for sexual assault on minors, committed between 1971 and 1991, in the diocese of Lyon. Aged 79, he had recently obtained conditional release for health reasons from Riom prison (Puy-de-Dôme), where he was incarcerated.
“I took care of a lot of children. I was far from attacking them all, thank God! “, the cleric defended himself during his trial in 2020. “I have always painfully experienced this difference between what I preached and what I did. But you are right, master, I should have fled…”he also said.
At the origin of the trial of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin
Maintained in office by the diocese of Lyon until the fall of 2015 even though his actions had been known for a long time, Bernard Preynat asked for forgiveness from the nine victims who came to testify to their suffering.
The affair shook the Church, notably the diocese of Lyon, leading to the trial of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin for not having denounced the sexual crimes of this priest. Convicted at first instance in 2019 for his silence on the affair, Mgr Barbarin was then acquitted on appeal but resigned from his functions as archbishop of Lyon.
