15 months after the Church's announcement of compensation for victims of pedophile priests, the measure seems to have stalled.
The Synod of Bishops meeting since Monday must particularly address this thorny question, because behind the financial gesture arises the question of the responsibility of the institution.
It was a year and a half ago: in the wake of the Barbarin affair, the Church announced compensation for the victims of pedophile priests.
But since the measure is at a standstill, because "differences" have appeared, we confided to the Synod of Bishops which has been held since Monday and until Wednesday.
This assembly must in particular find answers to difficult questions: how to repair the harm done to the victims?
What is the institution's responsibility?
Should she compensate the 6,500 people who have already testified to the Sauvé commission, charged with investigating sexual abuse in the Church?
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Financial gesture and responsibility of the institution
Because behind the question of the financial gesture is that of the responsibility of the institution.
A payment could become an act of repentance as an institution and that is where the shoe pinches.
Moreover, the bishops' conference does not hesitate to cite as an example the speech of Jacques Chirac in 1995 on France's responsibility in the Vel d'Hiv roundup.
The question of a memorial is also being studied: an interview with historian Henry Rousso, who works at a memorial to the victims of terrorism, will thus be broadcast to the bishops during the synod.
But a financial gesture without recognizing the responsibility of the Church would go wrong, according to the Faith and Resilience collective which works with the bishops.
A simple collective compensation paid to all would make little sense, according to the latter.
"Above all, there must be a process of repair, individual support with third parties outside the Church, psychologists or caregivers who must assess the psychological damage over a lifetime", considers Marie-Claire Sylvestre, member of the collective who was abused by his uncle, a priest, from his 5 to 11 years old.
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Towards a moral and financial cataclysm?
But unlike the Synod of Bishops which would like decisions to be taken next March, at their next assembly, Marie-Claire Sylvestre does not want compensation to be decided quickly.
According to her, this would only serve to show "white paw", because the conclusions of the Sauvé report will be submitted in October and could reveal even more victims.
It is therefore a real moral and financial cataclysm that could befall the Church, since the necessary funds would then have to be found to compensate everyone.