The Emmaüs logo stripped of the words “Founder Abbé Pierre” after the revelations of sexual abuse by the priest

France – A vote very close to unanimity. Among the batch of changes brought about by the recent revelations about Abbé Pierre's past as a sexual abuser, the Emmaus movement took a step forward this Tuesday, January 21, by voting at an extraordinary general assembly to remove the mention ” Founder Abbot Pierre » of its historic logo.

Submitted to the vote of the participants, the withdrawal of this mention which had become embarrassing for the association fighting against poverty obtained 91% of the votes. “A clear result” for the president of Emmaüs France Bruno Morel, interviewed by AFP. From now on, the logo composed of a blue square with a sun on its right side no longer presents this reminder to its creator, until now present under the logo.

“Without denying what we owe to Abbé Pierre, we must continue to work in the service of vulnerable populations”added Bruno Morel. According to a press release from the Emmaus Movement, this voting proposal was submitted by its Board of Directors in September “ following the second wave of revelations » on sexual violence committed by the man of the Church between the 1950s and 2000s.

« This measure was in line with the approach of recognition and respect towards the victims, which has been ours since the beginning of this affair. », further details the movement founded in 1949 on its site.

The Abbé Pierre Foundation soon to be renamed

In a delicate situation since these revelations and the “ discovery of terrible facts » committed by the founder of Emmaüs, the association now cultivates a two-step posture. By recognizing on the one hand that Abbé Pierre will do “always part of (its) history”while admitting that“it becomes impossible to publicly honor one’s image”. Reason why she had the place of memory dedicated to Henri Grouès (his real name) permanently closed in Esteville, in Seine-Maritime.

If Abbé Pierre, who died in 2007, is still defended on certain points by relatives, he is now targeted by 33 accusations of sexual violence. All revealed by three separate reports from the Egaé firm. The latter having been mandated by the Emmaüs movement and the Abbé Pierre Foundation to shed light on the actions of the priest.

In total, Abbot Pierre is the target of 33 accusations of sexual violence, some of which the Church had known for a very long time. They were revealed in three different reports produced by the Egaé firm, commissioned by the Emmaüs movement and the Abbé Pierre Foundation to shed light on the actions of the Catholic priest.

This change in visual identity must also be followed by a change of name for another famous movement that Abbé Pierre had created with relatives in 1987: the Abbé Pierre Foundation, specializing in the fight against poor housing. . She also plans to change her name soon. But ” no fight », She specifies on her website.

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