The priest-dean of Morez, in Haut-Jura, celebrated his last Mass for Epiphany on Sunday, January 2. The opportunity to say goodbye to his faithful, to whom he had announced his resignation on December 2, 2021. Father Patrick Gorce said he needed “take a step back”, after revealing to have been victim of sexual assault in the Church in his childhood.
A resignation to take a step back from the Church
the Father Gorce is a priest for 13 years. Two years at Champagnole, followed by seven years at Dole and finally more than four and a half years at Morez. But it was only two years ago that the memory of his attack came back to him, he explained in a statement to his followers.
At his last mass, he announced that he would take a few months to think about remaining, or not, priest. “I am going to rest for a few months in my house in Clairvaux-les-Lacs, go on a trip to Canada, then look for a job, so as not to depend financially on the Church while I reflect”, explained Father Gorce at the end of his office.
Nearly 300 parishioners who came to greet their parish priest warmly
Near 300 faithful came to say goodbye to their parish priest. A particularly symbolic farewell mass, that of the Epiphany, when the Three Kings were guided to Jesus by a star: “hoping that the star will continue to guide him”, sighs Dominique, longtime faithful, very moved by the departure of Father Patrick.
We say to ourselves that we may have looked for him “- Father Patrick Gorce
the 41 year old priest, evokes a “scourge under a bell”. “We say to ourselves that it is not that bad, or maybe even that it is us who looked for it”, he explains, answering the question of his followers: “why did it take so long to realize his assault?”
– Rachel Saadoddine
Another question from the parishioners: “why did you choose this profession, even though he was attacked by a priest?” There, Father Patrick talks about his faith, “I still believe in the Church”, and claims to testify today, in the hope that what he went through won’t happen again.
All priests are not like that, we must not generalize “- Father Patrick Gorce
“Just because a priest has slipped that I have to say that all priests are like that. It’s about not generalizing.” Patrick Gorce leaves his followers to thunderous applause. As for justice “she is taking her course”, declares the priest. He complained, but the facts are prescribed.