“Obviously, we feel a great betrayal, a great sadness. » Benjamin Lavernhe, who lends his features to the priest in the film “L’Abbé Pierre: Une vie de combats”, directed by Frédéric Tellier, spoke in the program “Beau Geste”, broadcast on Sunday November 10 on France 2 .
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“The duality of the human being, the ambivalence, it’s always a shock”
While the founder of the Emmaus movement is accused of sexual violence by 24 women, and the testimonies are multiplying, the 40-year-old actor declared: “To say to ourselves that we have missed out on that and that we cannot didn’t see it, that’s what’s most terrible. » And to continue: “I think of the victims, there are 25 testimonies and it is terrible. » The member of the Comédie-Française says he feels “stunned. I’m looking for words, but it’s hard to find them. And added: “Fright, because somewhere, he was a friend. »
“How could this guy who did so many extraordinary things behave so badly? And beyond! The duality of the human being, the ambivalence, it’s always a shock,” he says. “And of course Frédéric Tellier and all the teams are devastated. (…) To say to ourselves that we missed that and didn’t see it, well, that’s what’s most terrible. So yes, it will take time to recover. »Last September, the production and artistic team of the biopic released at the end of 2023, condemned the “crimes” committed by the religious.
Investigation and name change
The report from the specialized firm Egaé (New window), submitted to the Emmaüs movement on September 4, and relayed by the Abbé-Pierre Foundation, mentions “remarks of a sexual nature”, “repeated acts of sexual penetration” on a person major, as well as “sexual contact with a child”.
Following these revelations, the Abbé-Pierre Foundation announced the launch of steps to change its name. Also, the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) has decided to open its archives to researchers, to investigate. On October 23, Céline Béraud, sociologist and director of studies at the School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS), was appointed head of the commission of independent experts, the body responsible for shedding light on the dysfunctions which allowed Abbé Pierre to “not be worried”.
