Emmaüs communities in shock

In Esteville (Seine-Maritime), the face of Abbé Pierre is everywhere, the school bears his name. Abbé Pierre lived in this town for part of his life and the accusations of sexual assault brought against him by at least seven women are an earthquake in the town. Ludovic lived on the street before being housed in the Emmaüs boarding house in Esteville. The accusations are painful. “For me, he’s a second dad”he assures.

A resident regularly places flowers on the grave of Abbé Pierre, buried in the town. “He’s someone we idolized and if that really happened, it’s ugly.”she regrets. For the 125 Emmaüs communities across France, the shockwave is immense. “Ladies, we believe you”says Pascal Laforgue, president of Emmaüs Gironde. Employees, volunteers, but also beneficiaries of Emmaüs, hope that the accusations will not tarnish the work of the Abbé-Pierre foundation, essential to the survival of the poorest.