The bishops of France could announce Friday the establishment of compensation for victims of pedophile crimes in the Church, in favor of which they had already spoken in 2019. On Europe 1, Marie-Claire Sylvestre, who has been raped by a priest in her childhood, demands treatment on a case-by-case basis.

INTERVIEW

The Spring Plenary Assembly of the Bishops of France has been meeting since Tuesday in Lourdes, and partly by videoconference, in order to discuss in particular the delicate question of compensation for victims of pedophile crimes within the Church.

A list of resolutions voted by the 120 members of this assembly to fight against this scourge could be unveiled this Friday.

"I hope that the Church, as an institution, recognizes its responsibility in all these dysfunctions and all these crimes that there have been against children", particularly wished to react to the microphone of Europe 1, Marie- Claire Sylvestre, victim in childhood of repeated rapes of a priest who was also her uncle.

A secret she kept for 50 years.

Take into account the experience of each victim to be compensated

The bishops agreed in 2019 on the principle of compensation to be paid to victims, but since then, the subject has been in the hands of working groups.

"They take a long time to think. If they are still a little in denial, they really have to wake up!", Annoys Marie-Claire Sylvestre.

"The payment of compensation is very important, because nine out of ten victims will never have a trial. So, there must be compensation. It is symbolic."

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She believes that this sum must take into account each person's journey, in particular the way in which the trauma suffered has affected their existence.

"This compensation must first be a lump sum, but it will then be necessary to readjust it because everyone has had their own particular life, made up of upheavals, different traumas and therapies", explains our witness.

"The Church cannot release compensation there, right now, at the end of the year or next year, and then deem the matter closed. It doesn't work that way."