LYON (FRANCE)
RFI
January 15, 2020
Accused of sexually abusing dozens of boy scouts in the 1970s and 80s, a French Catholic priest has confessed in court to “caresses” he knew were forbidden, saying for 20 years “it happened every weekend”.
Bernard Preynat told a court in Lyon on the first day of his trial that it could have been “four or five children a week”.
“For me, at the time, I was not committing sexual assault but giving caresses, hugs,” he said. “I was wrong.”
Preynat’s voice reportedly faltered as he admitted the interactions “brought me sexual pleasure”.
But while he knew the actions were forbidden, he said he only finally understood that they were illegal thanks to “the accusations of the victims”.
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