A year ago, the RTS revelations surrounding sexual abuse at the Abbey of Saint-Maurice caused a shock, particularly because the abbot in office, Jean Scarcella, was himself the target of a complaint filed on September 13, 2024. The content of this remained secret, but on Monday we learned that the Valais public prosecutor had concluded its investigation with an order not to enter into the matter.
Despite the requests of the “Nouvelliste” to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to obtain the content of the order, it will remain confidential in order to protect the complaining party. But the abbot gave an explanation: “I was accused of having made an inappropriate gesture, qualified as harassment, an act which dates back more than thirty years. The person who made this denunciation says he was deeply hurt. I respect the feelings of this person and if I hurt them, I ask them for forgiveness. He also adds that he has no memory of having met this person and even less of having behaved ambiguously.
This decision by the Valais courts does not yet mean that the abbot will automatically return to his position at the Abbey, where he had withdrawn. It is the subject of an internal Church investigation and a decision from the Vatican is awaited.
#Swiss
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