A new scandal tarnishes the image of the Catholic Church. A scandal that took place in the Channel. Mgr Michel Santier, former bishop of Créteil, was sanctioned by the Vatican for “spiritual abuse leading to voyeurism on two adult men“. Facts that took place in the 1990s in Coutances (Manche).
The facts were committed while he was a priest in Coutances as part of a spiritual accompaniment, at the school of Faith, a prayer training school for 18-30 year olds, of which he was director at the ‘era. Bishop Santier, who has been retired for a year, has recognized these acts of voyeurism. He tendered his resignation in June 2020 two years before the legal age required by the Vatican (75 years).
No complaint from the victims but a report to the religious authorities
The two victims did not file a complaint but made themselves known to the Church authorities in 2019. Rome’s disciplinary action dates back to last year but the case has just been revealed by the weekly Christian Family
and confirmed by press releases this Friday evening from the dioceses where he exercised, in particular the diocese of Coutances.
I am aware that this news is a great shock
Following these measures, Monsignor Laurent Leboulc’h, the current bishop of Coutances explains that he “asked Bishop Santier to leave Saint-Pair-sur-Mer to join a community of sisters“. This is the abbey of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte where ” he leads a life of withdrawal and prayer“and y”provides a limited ministry“, adds Monsignor Leboulc’h who also expresses in this press release his “compassion“ for the victims and those hurt by these revelations. “I’m conscioushe writes, this news is a big shock.”
Mgr Dominique Blanchet, current bishop of Créteil, also in a press release assured the victims of his “compassion“. In October 2021, the Catholic Church was shaken by the publication of the shock report of the Sauvé Commission who has documented the extent of pedocrime within the religious institution over the past 70 years. In Lourdes, in November 2021, the episcopate recognized his “institutional responsibility“as well as the character”systemicof this violence.