"An unacceptable situation": the promotion of a priest convicted of rape sparks indignation in the French Church

In early June, the Archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, appointed the priest Dominique Spina, sentenced in 2006 to five years in prison, one of which was suspended , for the rape of a 16-year-old high school student in 1993 , to the post of chancellor. The archbishop then explained that he had "taken the side of mercy" in appointing this priest, whom he had "nothing to reproach," to an "administrative function" - the chancellor establishes administrative acts and has an advisory role. But embarrassed or incredulous reactions have been multiplying since then.
It's a position that "symbolically, is still significant," emphasizes one bishop, who considers it "a great shame" for the Church as a whole. "A priest convicted of serious sexual acts cannot hold a position of responsibility again. We should be able to say that," he adds.
On condition of anonymity, a priest expressed his "astonishment, stupor, and incomprehension, given the progress made by the Church." In a joint statement on Tuesday, several groups of victims of Catholic institutions (notably Notre-Dame de Bétharram, Notre-Dame de Garaison, and Sainte-Croix-des-Neiges) expressed their "deep indignation" and "anger" at an "unacceptable" situation.
The media also echoed these questions. Highlighting the "deep emotion" of some of the faithful, the daily newspaper "La Croix" estimated on Thursday that "the principle of mercy cannot be used as a hasty justification." The traditionalist website "Riposte catholique" expressed outrage at an "unjustifiable" decision, believing that "it might be time for Rome to intervene."
"Compassion does not consist of rehabilitating a man condemned to a canonical office," stated the website Tribune chrétienne, also taking a conservative line. The emotion is all the greater since the canonical code stipulates that the chancellor be "of an upright reputation and above all suspicion." However, "the sanction imposed and the sentence served do not restore the reputation," stated theologian Patrick Goujon in "La Croix" on Saturday. In the weekly Charlie Hebdo, the victim of priest Dominique Spina, a former student of Bétharram, believes that "even if he is no longer in contact with children, it is a terrible symbol to reinstate him."
A context already difficult for the ChurchThe case, which comes as new accusations against Abbé Pierre are made public, runs counter to the Church's efforts to address the scale of sexual violence revealed in 2021 by the Ciase report. Two recognition and reparation commissions have thus been set up. The Archbishop of Chambéry, Mgr Thibault Verny, has just been appointed head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors: "symbolically, this clearly shows that the Holy See recognizes the work done by France," said one bishop.
"It's unheard of to dare to tell victims that they must move forward."
Acknowledging a "lack of understanding" and "questions" from the faithful, Bishop de Kerimel again invoked the principle of "mercy" in a statement on Thursday, without which the perpetrator would risk "social death." "This is in no way about relativizing a crime," and the victim must be "recognized and helped." But "they must move forward to rebuild their lives," he added.
SudOuest