The PS senators formally submitted a request for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into sexual abuse in the Church in France.

The leader of the socialist senators Patrick Kanner announced Tuesday the filing of an official request for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry on the sexual abuses in the Church in France.

Kanner announced on RTL to use his group's "draw right" (once per regular session) to launch this survey.

"This commission is for the victims," ​​says Patrick Kanner. https://t.co/KZnaWgOGGe

- RTL France (@RTLFrance) October 9, 2018

"We ask this commission of inquiry to shed light on this scandal which, unfortunately, spoils the image of the Church and above all we want the victims to be able to express themselves in complete independence" , defended Mr. Kanner .

"We are not in front of a sin but in the face of crimes against the law of the Republic," he added, assuring that senators were "in a normal role" and that the commission would not encroach on ongoing judicial investigations.

Find credibility

A group of personalities gathering religious, ex-ministers, lawyers and victims had recently launched an appeal, published in Christian Testimony , for such a parliamentary inquiry.

88% of French (87% of Catholics, 90% of practitioners) have also declared their support for a parliamentary commission "investigating pedophile crimes and their concealment in the Catholic Church," according to an Odoxa poll released Tuesday.

75% of Catholics (83% of practitioners) also believe that a parliamentary inquiry can help the Church regain credibility.

"This poll shows that there is a plebiscite for this commission to be created. We are therefore determined to implement it in a way that will serve society as a whole, " said Kanner. "I hope we will be followed by the Law Commission and the Senate's governing bodies , " who still have to consider the group's request.

On the National Assembly side, its president Richard Ferrand (LREM) had closed the door to the idea of ​​creating a parliamentary commission of inquiry on the subject.