A Catholic priest from Versailles has been indicted for rape and sexual assault, said Monday the diocese of Versailles in a statement.
Father Laurent Thuillier was indicted on Friday for "rape on a major person", "sexual assault on a minor", "moral harassment" and "sexual solicitation of a minor under the age of 15," the diocese said. An investigation was opened after the complaint in December 2016 of a believer for herself and her daughter.
The bishop of Versailles calls for "the courage of the truth"
The bishop of Versailles, Bishop Eric Aumonier, said Monday that he "took the necessary measures as soon as he was aware of the charges", indicating that these "conservatory" measures were maintained "taking into account the conditions of judicial control" of the priest. It is a prohibition "to come into contact with the complainant, her family and relatives", "to exercise her ministry in a public manner", to "confess" and an obligation of "spiritual accompaniment and psychological ".
"By having a particular thought for the alleged victims, I count on each other so that, in this painful situation for all and in the respect of the people, we have the courage of the truth. the bishop said in a statement.
In May 2018, practicing Catholic women from Versailles denounced the "silence" and "dysfunctions" of the diocese of Versailles in this affair. They have since founded an association called "Like a loving mother", aimed at supporting victims of abuse by members of the Catholic institution.
"A relief", for the association "Like a loving mother"
The faithful had lodged a complaint after a one-year liaison with the priest during which she said she had been under the influence of the person who was then her spiritual companion, at the time, said the members of this association. She was also worried about the priest's manipulation of her 13-year-old daughter, who was sometimes invited to sleep at the presbytery. These links were materialized by more than 250 e-mails and more than 2,500 text messages - some of them consulted by AFP - sent by the priest to the mother or even the teenager and sometimes accompanied by veiled threats.
"It's a relief after two and a half years of procedure," the association reacted Monday evening in a statement. "It is however regrettable and indelicate that the victims learn through a statement of the bishopric of Versailles the penal qualifications retained while the bishopric is not 'party' to the procedure", continues the communique, which adds that the latter "has not previously shown any consideration for the said victims despite their repeated warnings and requests for support."