The case of Cardinal Ricard. The Vatican announces an investigation

The Vatican announced on Friday the opening of an investigation following the revelation of a new sexual abuse scandal by French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, who admitted to the conduct 35 years ago.reprehensible with a 14-year-old girl“.

“Following the elements that have emerged in recent days and following the statement of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, in order to complete the investigation of what happened, it has been decided to open an investigation (investigation).Matteo Bruni, director of the press service of the Holy See, told journalists.

“We are currently evaluating the most suitable person to lead it, with the necessary autonomy, impartiality and experience, also taking into account the fact that the French judicial authorities have opened a case.“, he added. On Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office in Marseille announced that it had opened an investigation following the confessions of the former archbishop of Bordeaux, who in 2019 in the church.

surprise announcements

“Thirty-five years ago, when I was a parish priest, I behaved reprehensibly with a 14-year-old girl. My behavior definitely caused serious and lasting consequences for this person“, the cardinal, who is now 78 years old, wrote without elaborating on the facts of which he himself is accused while in Marseilles. The announcements came a day after the French episcopate’s surprise announcement that dozens of bishops or former bishops have been forced to deal with civil justice or church justice “abuse“sexual or their”cancellationover several decades.

Three specific bishops have been indicted for not prosecuting an abusive priest: Pierre Picard, deceased, convicted in 2001, Andre Fort, convicted in 2018, Philippe Barbarin, released in 2020. Eight bishops were accused of the old facts, which are condemned. them when they were priests. Out of these eight, three cases are under preliminary investigation, criminal cases have been initiated against five, and some are still pending. One of them, Herve Gashinyar, was fired in 2017.

Bishop Ricard, who has the right to vote in the event of a conclave, is a member of the powerful diocese responsible for the doctrine of the faith, equivalent to serving in the government of the Holy See; violence against minors. The legal process is usually opened only when the case is closed by the judicial authorities of the country concerned. At the end of the civil action, the Church can request the documents from the judicial authorities to include it in its assessment.