“‘This is not a case about just one man, Cardinal Barbarin, but about a whole institution,’ according to La Parole Libérée’s lawyers. They hope to demonstrate that the failure of the seven (church officials who allegedly covered up abuse) to report the priest’s crimes should be subject to prosecution, contrary to the ruling of the state prosecutor in Lyon.”
“Almost a year after the French justice system decided to drop criminal proceedings against Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, and six others for failing to report sexual abuse of boy scouts committed by a priest, the case has been reopened.
“The abuses took place between 1978 and 1991.
“‘If we stop now, who will bring the debate into the public domain?’ said François Devaux, the head of La Parole Libérée (‘Lift the Burden of Silence’) an organisation of former Saint-Luc Scout Group members, many of whom who were allegedly sexually abused by the priest who led the group, Bernard Preynat.
“After a preliminary investigation, it was decided in August 2016 not to pursue a case against Barbarin and the other six.
“But the priest’s alleged victims have now come together to bring a civil action against that decision.
“Seven people were yesterday issued summonses to appear before the Lyon criminal court in September.”
By Bénévent Tosseri, La Croix International — Read more …
Voice of the Faithful ® 