A new revelation that shakes the Church of France. While the Conference of Bishops of France is currently meeting in Lourdes, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort held an exceptional press briefing on Monday, November 7. The chairman of the conference announced that eleven former bishops were “implicated”
before the civil justice or the justice of the Church, in cases of sexual violence. He notably mentioned the case of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, born in Marseilles in 1944. The latter recognizes, in a letter, a behavior “objectionable” on a minor of 14 years.
Priest in Marseille at the time of the events
At this time, 35 years ago, Jean-Pierre Ricard was then parish priest at Sainte-Marguerite parish in the 9th arrondissement of Marseille. The former president of the Conference of Bishops from 2001 to 2007 returned to these facts which date from 1987. About his 14-year-old victim, he claims to have “explained with her” and have him “request forgiveness”. The cardinal also affirms “to make available to justice, both at the level of society and that of the Church”.
Jean-Pierre Ricard was notably Archbishop of Bordeaux from the end of 2001 to 2019.“I express my great sympathy to the victim concerned, declares Jean-Paul James, current archbishop of the city. And I share the pain of all those, especially in the diocese of Bordeaux, who will be hurt by these revelations.”
A revelation that follows the Michel Santier case
An announcement that almost comes a month after revelations about Michel Santier
. Retired in 2021, he had been sanctioned by the Vatican for acts of “voyeurism” in the 1990s about two adult men_._ Facts committed in the context of confession, while he was a priest in La Manche and director of a prayer training school for young people. Revelations which only occurred ‘one year later, which had then provoked anger among the victims.
The 120 members of the Conference of Bishops of France are reunited since Thursday in Lourdes for their fall plenary assembly.