Abuse case dismissed despite Cardinal admitting ‘mistakes’

UNITED KINGDOM
National Secular Society

Posted: Thu, 04 Aug 2016

One of the most senior cardinals in France, Lyons’ Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, has been told by the prosecutor that he will not face charges following allegations that he had failed to report suspicions of child abuse by a priest under his control, as is required by French law.

Bernard Preynat, a priest in his diocese, was charged in January after admitting to sexual assaults on four boy scouts between 1986 and 1991 — crimes which his lawyers say he can no longer be convicted of. There are thought to be many more victims.

Associated Press has reported that the “statute of limitations had expired for some of the allegations” against the Cardinal and the evidence for other accusations was not “sufficient”.

In May at the height of prosecutors’ investigations into Cardinal Barbarin’s actions, the Pope said publicly that it would be “nonsensical and imprudent” to seek the archbishop’s resignation at this stage, although Cardinal Barbarin admitted last month to “errors in the management and nomination of certain priests”, while vehemently denying any cover-up.

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