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French Court Finds Cardinal Barbarin Guilty of Not Reporting Abuser Priest

By Gerard O’Connell
America Magazine
March 7, 2019

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/07/french-court-finds-cardinal-barbarin-guilty-not-reporting-abuser-priest

A French court today condemned Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, 68, the Archbishop of Lyons, for not reporting a priest in his diocese to the civil authorities for the sexual abuse of minors. The court imposed a six-month suspended prison sentence on him, meaning he will not have to spend time in prison.

Cardinal Barbarin told journalists after the verdict: “I have decided to go to the Holy Father to hand in my resignation. He will receive me in a few days.” He said he “took note of the decision of the tribunal, and independent of my personal fate, I wish to reaffirm all my compassion for the victims.” The Vatican has yet to comment on the verdict.

French media reported that the victims were overjoyed when the judge announced that he found the cardinal “guilty,” they said it was more than they had hoped.

Cardinal Barbarin told journalists after the verdict: “I have decided to go to the Holy Father to hand in my resignation. He will receive me in a few days.”

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On March 6, Ms. Charlotte Trabut, the deputy-prosecutor, told the court in Lyons that she would not ask for a conviction of any of those on trial because the statute of limitations had expired. Besides the cardinal, five other clerics from his diocese were on trial in relation to their involvement in the case.

The cardinal’s lawyers, however, were clearly disappointed and announced that they will appeal the case.

Cardinal Barbarin, who was not present in court, is the third member of the college of cardinals to be publicly linked to the abuse scandal in the church. The others were Theodore McCarrick and George Pell. He and Cardinal Pell are still cardinal electors with a right to vote in a conclave.

 

 

 

 

 




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