An investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office for “facts of a sexual nature” dating from the time when the bishop of La Rochelle headed the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP).
The bishop of La Rochelle, Mgr Georges Colomb, asked to be “removed” from his duties for the time of an investigation relating, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office, to “acts of a sexual nature” dating from the time. where he headed the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP).
The Paris prosecutor’s office told AFP on Tuesday evening that it had opened an investigation following a report from the Missions, “concerning acts of a sexual nature alleged against this bishop and which were allegedly committed in 2013”. It thus confirmed information published by The cross, Christian family et The life.
In a letter to the faithful of the diocese of La Rochelle, Mgr Colomb, 69, former superior general of the MEP (2010-2016), said he was “stunned by these allegations”, which he “totally denies”. “I will of course respond to the judicial authorities as soon as they wish to hear me.”
“Serious” charges
“In order to be able to prepare his defense and preserve the diocese of La Rochelle”, Bishop Colomb “took the decision to ask the pope to set him aside for the time of the investigation, while remaining bishop of La Rochelle”, specifies a press release. of the diocese. “An administrator should be appointed to look after our diocese during this time.”
In a separate press release also published on Tuesday evening, the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) describes as “serious” the accusations made against Bishop Colomb and Bishop Gilles Reithinger, auxiliary bishop of Strasbourg.
The latter, who had succeeded Bishop Colomb at the head of the MEP from 2016 to 2021, is quoted in press articles as having been aware, as early as 2013, of the accusations of sexual assault which allegedly took place at the Paris headquarters of the MEP. , in the very chic 7th arrondissement. Bishop Reithinger denies having been informed, according to his remarks to The cross.
In its press release, the CEF underlines that the two bishops “categorically deny the facts described in the articles published this evening”. “The word of the complainants must be heard, the rights of the defense respected” and “it is now up to the investigations to find the whole truth”, adds the CEF.
Identify sexual violence
The crossin his very long investigation, wonders about the existence, within the MEP, of “a culture of secrecy and transgression conducive to the commission of sexual violence”.
In recent weeks, another priest of the Missions has been the subject of a legal investigation.
This priest, expelled from his Japanese diocese in 2011 for having had sexual relations with a man – “consensual” relations according to the MEPs -, then assigned as parish priest in the diocese of Angers, was taken into custody in April last, then left free, for “aggravated rape and non-denunciation of crime”, according to the prosecution of Angers. He is now suspended from his duties.
In this case, La Croix notes “the approximate management” by Bishops Reithinger and Colomb.
In mid-May, the MEPs announced that they had asked an external firm to identify cases of sexual violence that may have taken place between 1950 and 2023 within them.
This task, entrusted to the independent firm GCPS Consulting, will have to “inventory the cases of sexual violence that may have taken place over the period” 1950-2023 and “analyze the responses given to these cases”.
The Missions are a society of apostolic life created in 1658 with the aim of sending its missionaries to evangelize the countries of Asia in particular. They say they now have 150 priests in 14 countries (Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma and Madagascar in particular).
Its Parisian premises welcome foreign student priests and accommodate bishops during their stay in Paris.
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