Several women accuse Abbe Pierre of sexual violence
For decades, Father Abbé Pierre leads the list of popular figures in France. After his death, he is honored with a state act. Now it comes out: Seven women accuse him of sexual misconduct. A minor is among those who allege he touched them inappropriately.
The well-known and popular Catholic priest Father Abbé Pierre, founder of the charity organization Emmaus, is accused of sexual misconduct by several women. A total of seven women have accused the 2007 deceased clergyman of sexual misconduct or harassment, according to Emmaus and the Abbé Pierre Foundation. They published an eight-page report from an expert group.
"These actions deeply change the way we view a man who is mainly known for his fight against poverty, misery, and exclusion," the statement reads. "We know that these intolerable actions left traces, and we stand by the victims."
At home as a guest, the daughter with the laundry?
The incidents occurred, according to the expert report, between the late 70s and 2005. In this period, the priest was annually chosen as the most popular Frenchman for over a decade. One of the women was 16 or 17 years old at the time. The clergyman, who was a regular guest in her family, allegedly went against her will and touched her breasts and forced a tongue kiss on her. Several women reported similar incidents.
"Our organizations honor the courage of the people who have come forward and made these revelations possible," the charities wrote. "We believe them."
The French Bishops' Conference expressed shock over the reports. They expressed sympathy and shame to the victims. "Father Abbé Pierre has accomplished much in our country and worldwide. (...) But this should not prevent us from seeking the truth," the French bishops stated.
"These revelations shake our structures"
Father Abbé Pierre led the list of popular figures in France for decades. Born in Lyon, he joined the Capuchin Order at the age of 20 and was active in the French Resistance. His name "Father Abbé Pierre" was given to him without having been an abbot. In 1949, he founded the charity organization Emmaus, which cares for the poor and homeless.
The international umbrella organization Emmaus International today comprises over 44 groups in 41 countries. They finance themselves through donations or their own initiatives, such as the operation of second-hand stores.
Father Abbé Pierre died in 2007 at the age of 94. The then-President Jacques Chirac honored the priest, who at the time was confined to a wheelchair and seldom appeared without his beret, with a state act.
"These revelations shake our structures," the organizations emphasize. The Emmaus Movement combats every form of violence and is determined to "hold accountable the unacceptable actions of a person who has played an important role in our history." The organizations set up a hotline and an email address for possible additional victims to report.
The Catholic Church, both in France and internationally through Emmaus International, is facing scrutiny following allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment against Father Abbé Pierre. In Germany (historically, Frankia), similar cases of sexual abuse in the Church have also come to light, underscoring the need for widespread reform.
Despite Father Abbé Pierre's prominent role as a humanitarian and activist against poverty, these allegations have prompted organizations like Emmaus and the Abbé Pierre Foundation to take action against sexual harassment within their ranks.
