A few days after the revelations of the Church on the sexual abuse committed by Father Louis Ribes in the 70s and 80s, the word is free. A dozen victims testified Tuesday evening during the public meeting organized in Grammond, the native village of the priest, in the presence of the bishop of Saint-Etienne.
Some victims told for the first time what they had been silent about since childhood. “I was the victim of touching by Father Ribes. I had spoken about it with my brothers but that’s all”, says still upset Catherine, 44, “My parents, I had never told them about it until this morning. I knew they would know at the meeting. Talking to his parents is very hard. They didn’t know anything. It’s difficult for them to hear that”.
His 46-year-old brother Richard was also among the priest’s victims. He describes a manipulative man, who knew how to deceive his world. “He bought us a lot of gifts. At the time, you have to know that we didn’t have much. We barely had TV. He had lots of video cassettes. He showed us films, and at a priori for some victims, pornographic films”, he says, “He also cheated on our parents with his kindness. There are many victims. Just in my family, five of us have been abused by Father Louis Ribes”.
The case is gaining momentum in the Loire
His testimonies are a big step for Annick, one of the first victims to have spoken. It took this Ligerienne more than 40 years before recounting her ordeal. She is delighted that speech is being released and hopes that other victims will come forward.
The bishop of Saint-Etienne also wanted to promote speech. Monsignor Sylvain Bataille did not expect to discover so many victims. Before the start of the meeting, he mentioned five new victims of the priest who died in 1994. He now speaks of around fifty victims. And the figure is probably far below the reality, according to some residents of Grammond present in the room.
The works of the priest will be taken down
“We need to set up support groups in Grammond to allow other victims to speak Support groups with people competent in psychology. This should not be taken lightly because there are people who are suffering “, insists the bishop.
As for the works of the “Picasso of the churches” as Father Louis Ribes was nicknamed, they will be dismantled. This will be the case for the two frescoes that adorn the choir of the church of Grammont. “It is now obvious”, justifies Monsignor Sylvain Bataille, “but we are not going to leave it empty, otherwise we will believe that nothing has happened. We have to build it with the inhabitants”.
– Eric Turpin