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The Catholic bishops of France have, for the first time, recognized their institutional responsibility even for abuse cases from the past
By Céline Hoyeau | France
As France's Catholic bishops prepared to vote Monday on how to respond concretely to the recently published report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), they all appeared to agree that they collectively bore institutional responsibility for the historical and ongoing abuse crisis in their country.
The French Bishops' Conference (CEF) has been meeting at the Marian shrine of Lourdes since November 2 for a plenary assembly that has been focused mainly on the commission's findings, also known as the Sauvé Report.
Bishop Luc Crepy of Versailles promised last Friday that he and his confreres would take "strong actions" and set a "precise timetable" for measures that need to be implemented.
These eagerly awaited decisions must confirm the commitment of the bishops.
Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, the CEF president, was the one who announced on Friday that the bishops own their institutional responsibility for abuse, acknowledge the systemic nature of the abuse crisis and the need for a remedy.
"It is very good news, I did not expect it so soon," said Father Jean-Luc Souveton, who was sexually abused by a priest as a minor.
François Devaux, co-founder of the victims' group "La Parole Libérée" welcomed Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort's announcement as a "first essential step".
Only a week ago, such recognition had not yet been achieved.
At the end of the extraordinary assembly they held on this subject last March, the bishops said they were ready to assume their responsibility "for the future" by fighting for the prevention of these abuses, but not for the past and the faults of their predecessors.
The turning point was reached last Thursday afternoon during a closed session in which they were able to share, without masks, the emotions and suffering that the report's discovery triggered in each of them.
It was a "spiritual" experience, according to some, that broke down much of the remaining resistance and allowed them a "true communion", manifested the next day in a "resounding vote".
"They have broken the armor," said the lay people who were invited to participate in workshops with the bishops on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
"We saw them in a position of vulnerability. They did not hide it and that opened up a very real and fraternal collaboration," noted Louis-Etienne de Labarthe, an Emmanuel member associated with the Church reform network, Promesses d'Église.
A great freedom of tone
This recognition indeed freed up speech and the work with the laity. The discussions were characterized by a great freedom of tone.
"We went there in a direct way, there was no pseudo-protocol deference," said Arnaud Bouthéon, co-founder of France's Mission Congress.
The invitees expressed the anger people felt and their expectations for a true work of reparation that will cost the Church.
"I made it clear that I didn't understand why some bishops didn't resign their offices in the wake of the Sauvé Report," said one participant.
"It was good to hear the pain of the bishops, their concern, without a filter. They seemed happy not to be alone," acknowledged 27-year-old Clémence Pasquier.
Involved in youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Lyon, she came away with mixed feelings, between hope and fear.
"Most of them were listening, but they did not succeed in communicating their intentions to us," Pasquier said.
"There is still a lack of method and vision, which has led to frustration. We didn't know what our words were going to be used for and we still don't know it well. We need to learn how to collaborate" she added.
The need to call on the laity
Some participants also complained that the working sessions with the bishops were not longer.
On Saturday morning they again discussed the numerous ideas that were quickly listed the previous day during a workshop dedicated to the recommendations of CIASE.
The impression was that the conversation was all over the board.
However, it became clear that the bishops do not have to face the crisis alone, but can avail themselves of the varied expertise of the laity.
The bishops' recognition of their institutional responsibility gave more credibility to the memorial and penitential time organized Saturday morning. This was undoubtedly one of the strongest moments of the assembly.
"O God, forgive us for not having understood that the power you give us requires a flawless example. Forgive us for having mistaken your mercy for tolerance in the face of evil," read Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort, kneeling in front of the Basilica of the Rosary, at the foot of a large Red Cross set up for the occasion.
Unlike the penitential ceremony they held in November 2016, the bishops did not ask the victims for forgiveness this time.
"Until reparation has begun, the time for forgiveness has not yet come," explained Brigitte Navail, one of the victims who was asked to help prepare this penitential service.
"This day is only the first step of a long process," she said.
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