The French judiciary has launched an investigation into a priest who raped a minor. As the public prosecutor in Paris announced on Thursday, the West French pastor was in his fifties. He is also said to have administered drugs to the attacked youth in early November without his knowledge.
According to French media reports, the victim is a 15-year-old who met the priest through a dating app. The diocese of Rennes, where the priest comes from, reacted with dismay. Archbishop Pierre d’Ornellas expressed his condolences and support to the victim.
Priest confessed to abuse of 14-year-old girl
Just at the start of the week, a new abuse scandal caused a stir in the French Catholic Church. Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the former president of the French Catholic Bishops’ Conference, admitted to assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the 1980s. Justice is also investigating him.
About 216,000 abuse victims
A survey presented in October last year concluded that an estimated 216,000 children and young people have been victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in France since the 1950s. Including the facilities operated by the church, the number of casualties is estimated at 330,000.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
