Canonical inquiry into French bishops’ adviser Msgr Tony Anatrella

By Céline Hoyeau
La Croix
February 21, 2017

https://international.la-croix.com/news/canonical-inquiry-into-french-bishops-adviser-msgr-tony-anatrella/4722

Msgr Tony Anatrella during a conference in Lille in 2012. Photo by Peter Potrowl

Following the report from a commission set up to consider allegations of sexual assault against well-known priest psychologist, Fr Tony Anatrella, Cardinal Vingt-Trois of Paris has opened a canonical inquiry into the events.

For the last fifteen years, there have been accusations of sexual assault against well-known Paris priest and psychoanalyst, Msgr Tony Anatrella, 75. In a long-awaited decision, a canonical inquiry will be opened concerning the allegations, La Croix has learned.

Following a series of revelations last year concerning a Lyons priest, Fr Bernard Preynat, several former patients made allegations in the media against Msgr Anatrella. In May, Cardinal Vingt-Trois of Paris said he “encouraged these people to give up their anonymity… and to make their complaints to the relevant legal authorities".

Finally, after being contacted himself by several people, Cardinal Vingt-Trois last summer established a commission of inquiry headed by Auxiliary Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, who heard from those who wished to give evidence (or written testimony). No indication was given of the number or the dates of the alleged events.

“(The Commission) also heard from Msgr Anatrella,” the diocese stated, indicating that “on the basis of this report, Cardinal Vingt-Trois decided that a canonical process should be pursued".

However, Msgr Anatrella, who has himself worked as an expert for the Paris diocesan tribunal and who was often consulted in regard to files of priests suspected of pedophilia or abuse, could not be brought before the same tribunal.

As a result, at the end of January, Rome designated the Toulouse inter-diocesan tribunal to undertake the inquiry. In the event that the tribunal decides to laicize Msgr Anatrella, which is the most severe canonical penalty, its judgment will need to be confirmed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

If not, it will then be up to the archbishop of Toulouse to decide any penalty. “Concerning civil law, Cardinal Vingt-Trois alerted the Republican prosecutor in Paris that a canonical inquiry had been launched,” a Paris diocesan spokesperson told La Croix. Meanwhile, another source confirms that one alleged victim “has not dropped” plans to launch a civil case.

Msgr Anatrella himself has always denied even the slightest inappropriate conduct. In his defense, he referred to a cabal against him resulting from his books on homosexuality. 

Moreover, his positions against civil partnerships and against “marriage for all” (gay marriage) also attracted numerous critiques from the groups involved. So too did his speeches on this theme, particularly those published in L’Osservatore Romano.

Msgr Anatrella, who has the honorary title of Prelate of His Holiness, has always benefited from a certain “aura” in both Paris and Rome, where he was a “consultor” to two pontifical councils on the themes of the family and health.

Ordained a priest in 1968, the same year as Cardinal Vingt-Trois, he became well-known for his books on adolescents after beginning his career as a high school chaplain during the 1970s.

At a time when the Church was in still discovering psychoanalysis, he became widely consulted on a range of themes including AIDS, condoms, drugs, and gender theory. Nevertheless, he stopped exercising his pastoral ministry in Paris several years ago and last year his public courses at the Bernardin College were suspended.

“The Paris tribunal has opened preliminary inquiries against priests for much less,” comments one priest. “Why was nothing done in his case at a canonical level?

“For 25 years, whenever a priest was sick or a seminarian not feeling well, he was sent to Tony Anatrella,” the priest notes.

Moreover, the diocese received the first allegation as early as 2001. Five years later, three more complaints were registered with Paris prosecutors although the files were later closed.

In two instances, the alleged facts occurred outside the relevant limitations period while in the third case the prosecutor’s office ruled that “there were no elements comprising an offense".

In reply, Msgr Anatrella lodged a complaint of his own for slanderous libel and defamation.