FRANCE
RFI
By David Roe
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has urged Cardinal Philippe Barbarin accused of covering up the sexual abuse of Scouts by a priest, to “take responsibility”. This as it emerged Tuesday that another complaint, this time in respect of abuses committed during the 1990s by a priest still active in the Lyon area, had been made in February.
“The only message I have, without … taking the place of the Church, of the judges — because an investigation is under way — is that he must take responsibility, speak and act,” Valls told the national TV station BFM TV.
“I expect not only words, but acts,” the prime minister added.
Barbarin is one of several senior officials being sued for the alleged cover-up.
Church Cover-up
He is accused of being aware that priest Bernard Preynat had been sexually abusing young boys between 1986 and 1991.
According to a statement from the dioceses of Lyon, the complaint that was lodged in February was made by a highly placed government official, aged 42, who is said to have developed suicidal tendencies as a result of the abuse.
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