A FRENCH Roman Catholic priest, Abbé Pierre, who was celebrated during his lifetime as a champion of the poor, the vulnerable, and the homeless, has been accused of sexual assault, 17 years after his death.
The Abbé Pierre, who founded what is now the international Emmaus movement in 1949, died in January 2007, aged 94 (Obituary, 2 February 2007). The charity said last week that seven women had disclosed that he sexually assaulted or harassed them over a period between 1970 and 2005.
“We believe them, we know that these intolerable acts have left their mark and we stand by them,” a statement on the Emmaus International website says.
The allegations came to light a year ago, when one woman made a disclosure to Emmaus France. Emmaus International, Emmaus France, and the Abbé Pierre Foundation launched a full investigation, conducted by Caroline De Haas, of Groupe Egaé, which specialises in the prevention of abuse. She heard the testimonies of seven women, one of whom was a minor when the first reported incidents took place.
Most of the women were employees or volunteers at Emmaus. They reported “inappropriate behaviour of a personal nature, a sexual proposition, repeated comments with sexual connotations, attempts at unsolicited physical contact and unsolicited contact”, the investigation found. The testimonies suggest that Abbé Pierre traded on his status — described in the report as “a form of idolatry” — and that his behaviour was widely known within the organisation.
The investigation concluded: “It is reasonable to consider that other people were affected, although it is difficult to estimate how many.”
The statement from Emmaus International commends those who came forward. It has set up a confidential system for gathering further testimonies and offering support to victims.
The statement says: “These revelations have shaken our organisations, where the figure of Abbé Pierre plays a major role. We all know his story and his message. These acts profoundly change the way we regard this man, who was known above all for his struggle against poverty, destitution and exclusion.”
The Bishops’ Conference in France has expressed “deep compassion and shame” that such acts could be committed by a priest. In a press release issued last week, it said: “Abbé Pierre has had a remarkable impact in our country and in the world. He raised awareness of the responsibility of all towards people in precarious situations, and renewed the way our society looks at the poorest. But his position does not exempt him from the necessary work of truth, which Emmaus has carried out with clarity and courage, by listening to the complainants and by conducting this investigation.”
