Emmaüs will remove the mention of Abbé Pierre from its logo

The Emmaüs movement, meeting on Tuesday January 21 in an extraordinary general assembly, decided to remove from its logo the mention of its founder Abbot Pierre, who died in 2007 and is now the target of accusations of sexual violence. Participants voted 91% in favor of removing the mention “founder Abbot Pierre”which until now appeared in small print after the name of the association, under a symbol, a blue square decorated with a sun. “It’s a clear result”commented to AFP Bruno Morel, president of Emmaüs France. “Without denying what we owe to Abbé Pierre, we must continue to work in the service of vulnerable populations”.

The board of directors of Emmaüs France proposed in September to remove the mention of its founder from its logo, following a second round of revelations of accusations of sexual violence against him. This measure is part of “in line with the approach of recognition and respect towards the victims”specifies a press release from Emmaüs.

“A very painful page”

Abbot Pierre will “always part of our history”, more “it becomes impossible to publicly honor one’s image”notes the association. It also permanently closed the place of memory dedicated to the priest, in Esteville (Seine-Maritime). “Perhaps we will succeed in turning a very painful page, for the victims but also for the movement”suggested Bruno Morel. In total, Abbé Pierre is targeted by 33 accusations of sexual violence. 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 priest's actions.

The first, published in July, caused a shock wave as this tireless defender of the poorly housed and the most deprived has long been an icon. Created in 1949, Emmaüs is the oldest association founded on the initiative of Abbé Pierre, whose real name is Henri Grouès. He also created with relatives in 1987 the Abbé Pierre Foundation which fights against poor housing and also plans to change its name.