Isabelle de Gaulmyn, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “La Croix”, estimated on franceinfo Friday that the recognition by the bishops of the “institutional responsibility” of the Church in the pedocriminality which took place within it is “historic” .
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The Conference of Bishops of France recognized on Friday November 5 the “institutional responsibility” that the Catholic Church had in the commission of pedophile acts within it as well as the “systemic dimension” of this violence. “It is the first time that the bishops recognize that the whole institution is involved”, affirmed on franceinfo Isabelle de Gaulmyn, editor in chief of the newspaper La Croix.
franceinfo: Can we say that what happened in Lourdes today is historic?
Isabelle de Gaulmyn: Yes, it is historic. It is the first time that the bishops recognize that the whole institution is involved. Until now, we talked about black sheep, criminal priests, isolated cases. Today, we recognize that there is a collective responsibility, which the Sauvé report asked for. It is the body of the Church that has failed.
What are the consequences of this recognition of responsibility?
There are two. First of all, there is a financial consequence, since this opens the way for repairs. There will be a lot of work for the Church to recognize and compensate people who are victims of sexual abuse by priests. Cela requires the appointment of an independent commission because the bishops must not be their own judges. We must also determine how we will pay the victims. The devotees do not want to pay for this commission. Undoubtedly a certain number of rather wealthy dioceses, such as in Paris, Lyon or Lille, will have to sell apartments and property they own to constitute a fund which will make it possible to finance these repairs. Then, since it is said that it is institutional and that there is a systemic dimension, this institution will have to be reformed. It is a much longer process, which will take years, but which is very important.
Was this decision “an instruction” from the Vatican?
No, they themselves were a little surprised by the conclusions of the Sauvé report. Above all, they understood that French Catholics were overwhelmed, very angry and saddened. TO The cross, we have a lot of testimonials. We had never seen such a protest from the base. Catholics are fairly calm and discreet people and there it was rushing in the stretchers. The bishops understood that they had to do something important, that they take a new step because otherwise the Catholics would no longer follow them. However, this is in line with what the Vatican had requested because Pope Francis had urged the French bishops earlier this week to listen to the Sauvé report and the Catholics as well as to get closer to the victims. We are completely in line with what the Vatican wants.