• Bishop Ornellas, who met some of these victims at their request, underlined the importance for people who have suffered sexual abuse from priests or religious, often in childhood, to be "recognized as victims".

  • In Ille-et-Vilaine, Bishop d'Ornellas said he was aware of “45 situations”, 25 of which were caused by “priests of the diocese” between 1950 and 2020.

  • Pierre d'Ornellas, who prefers to speak of “fraternal contribution” rather than reparation, indicated that he asked for “forgiveness” during these meetings “orally and face to face” with the victims.

The testimonies are overwhelming.

In Rennes, the Archbishop explained that he had met and listened to 22 victims of sexual abuse since 2014. A concrete figure unveiled by Bishop Pierre d'Ornellas during a meeting with the press, while the potential number of victims of abuse sexuality in the Church is always difficult to apprehend.

The testimonies collected by the archbishop were placed in the file of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (Ciase), the conclusions of which are expected on October 5.

Chaired by Jean-Marc Sauvé, the Ciase has studied some 3,500 testimonies over 70 years.

During a progress report, its president had estimated at "at least 10,000" the number of victims of pedophile crime since the 1950s.

"The child feels guilty"

Evoking "a very long, very painful moment" with these people, Bishop d'Ornellas, who met some of these victims at their request, underlined the importance for people who have suffered sexual abuse from priests or religious, often in childhood, to be "recognized as victims". He noted the difficulties for them to "speak up" to describe what they have suffered. "The child feels guilty, guilty of letting the abuser do it," he recalled. In Ille-et-Vilaine, Bishop d'Ornellas said he was aware of “45 situations”, 25 of which were caused by “priests of the diocese” between 1950 and 2020.

"In my listening experience, for a victim to speak, she must be confident, so that she is recognized and not a second victim", underlined the Archbishop of Rennes.

“Sexual abuse is something that can kill a child, there are words that kill, actions that kill.

This is the commandment that was betrayed, ”said Bishop d'Ornellas.

Pierre d'Ornellas, who prefers to speak of “fraternal contribution” rather than reparation, indicated that he asked for “forgiveness” during these meetings “orally and face to face” with the victims.

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  • Sexual assault

  • Church

  • Religion

  • Priest

  • Society

  • Child

  • Catholicism

  • Pedocriminality

  • Reindeer