Priest in Secular Institute under Investigation for Pedophilia

La Croix
July 18, 2017

https://international.la-croix.com/news/priest-in-secular-institute-under-investigation-for-pedophilia/5554

The priest was placed under investigation on June 27 following a complaint by a young woman. "Grave incidents of sexual abuse of a minor committed eleven years ago have been alleged," a statement said. / annavee - stock.adobe.com

The Notre-Dame de Vie (Our Lady of Life) movement revealed in a statement released on July 14 that one of its priest members is being investigated for the sexual abuse of a minor. The secular institute is based in the south of France.The priest was placed under investigation on June 27 following a report lodged by a young woman.“He is charged with serious acts of sexual abuse of a minor committed eleven years ago,” the statement said. The priest has since been placed under judicial oversight.Vatican informedWhile waiting for “justice to be done”, Notre-Dame de Vie (NDV) leaders have taken “measures to distance [the priest from] any minor” and forbidden him from “any public exercise of his ministry”.They have also informed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome of the indictment.“I have tremendous compassion towards this young woman and her loved ones,” said Fr Benoit Caulle, who is responsible for NDV priests, in the statement. “These acts, which the Church absolutely condemns, are profoundly destructive.”“The scandal is doubled when a priest is suspected of such acts betrays the trust of a minor,” he continued.“Unbeknownst to us”“We knew nothing about this until June 27, when he was placed under investigation,” an NDV priest, Fr Pierre de Cointet, told La Croix.“The man in question had quite a variety of ministries in various dioceses,” he continued, adding that “the dioceses also knew nothing of the alleged actions of the priest".Fr "Alain B." had worked as a school chaplain before he was relieved of this position in 2016.“How can one violate the hope of a child?”For the past two years, the priest has been resting for health reasons, “but was conducting services in the parishes of his region", Fr de Cointet said.“As soon as we were notified, all necessary measures were taken to ensure that he did not come in contact with minors."It is the first time that an NDV priest has been implicated in such a case.“We are distressed for the victim. We do not know who she is,” Fr de Cointet added.“She has not contacted us but if she wishes to meet our superior, he will receive her without delay,” he assured. “How can one violate and destroy the hope of a child? It is extremely serious.”Notre-Dame de Vie was founded in 1932 by Fr Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, a Discalced Carmelite, in Venasque in the South of France.