The conclusions of the Sauvé report made the effect of a bomb in the church. The numbers are overwhelming: more than 330,000 victims of sexual abuse identified since the 1950s. For those seeking compensation, there is the national victim compensation fund, to which the diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux contributes
300,000 euros paid to the national victim compensation fund
Nearly 70,0000 euros have already been paid by the diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux. It’s onlya small part, underlines the Bishop of the Bayeux-Lisieux diocese, Monsignor Jacques Habert, who explains that he put up for sale some of the real estate belonging to the diocese. As it happens two apartments in Bayeux, whose sale will bring together within one or two months 230,000 additional euros.
A new meeting of bishops next April will make it possible to say whether the sums collected are sufficient to compensate all the victims.
About fifteen new victims came forward in Calvados
In the past 3 months, since the publication of the Sauvé report on October 5, 2021, about fifteen new victims came out of the silence: eight were received by Monsignor Habert, the others have written or telephoned to tell their story involving six priests of the diocese.
Since 1950, these are 35 Churchmen accused of sexual abuse in Calvados. Some of them have since died or the facts prescribed.
From now on, so that sexual abuse is systematically reported to justice, an agreement between the Bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux and the two public prosecutor’s offices of the department will be signed by the end of the first quarter.
A memorial site in the diocese of Bayeux-Lisieux
The Bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux is also considering creating a memorial place for the Norman victims of this sexual abuse. It could be installed in Lisieux, Bayeux or Douvres-la-Délivrande.