While new testimonies report sexual violence by the priest, his foundation which fights against poor housing is worried about a massive drop in donations from individuals and is waiting to finally be able to change its name.
The Abbé Pierre Foundation is struggling to recover from accusations of sexual assault against its founder, who died in 2007. Since the publication of a first investigation in July by the association itself, donations from individuals “fell from 30% to 33%”worries about Figaro Christophe Robert, general delegate of the foundation. While new accusations emerged at the beginning of January and the president of the Conference of Bishops of France requests the opening of a judicial investigation this Friday, January 17, the Abbé Pierre Foundation fears having to once again review its action against the poor housing on the decline.
Donations from individuals represent half of the public's generosity (legacy, life insurance, patronage, etc.), itself the source of 97% of the association's resources. Fortunately, for the moment this does not see “no drop in patronage”. For legacies, engraved in wills several years before the death of the donor, “we will have to anticipate potential effects in the medium and long term”fears Christophe Robert. The situation is all the more critical as it is in the months of October to December that the generosity of donors is normally concentrated. The budget had to be revised downwards “while needs have not decreased”underlines the general delegate.
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An imminent name change
The Abbé Pierre Foundation remains handicapped by its name, which causes“wait-and-see attitude among some of the donors”. The process to rename itself has begun but it is dragging on. “As we are an association recognized as being of public utility, with advantageous tax exemption mechanisms, there are procedures to respect”explains Christophe Robert. The name change should be possible before the end of the first quarter of 2025. In the meantime, the Foundation has stopped using its logo with the head of Abbot Pierre and “took the lead by communicating to say that we are going to change our name, but no fight”.
The priest, who died in 2007, has been the target of a total of 33 accusations of sexual violence since the first report by the Egaé cabinet, commissioned by Emmaüs – of which the Abbé Pierre Foundation is a part. “The crescendo of reports shows that there is manipulation, strategy, threats, blackmail, pressure and, sometimes, what may be the responsibility of an organizationestimated Tarek Daher, general delegate of Emmaüs France. All of this put together paints the portrait of a predator who commits extremely serious things.” The movement now wishes to discover “how can such an omerta be put in place”.
France
