Their reaction was expected by a large part of the French Catholics. The bishops of France want the Archbishop of Toulouse to return to his decision to promote Dominique Spina, a priest convicted of rape on a minor in 2006, believing that this appointment can only “rekindle wounds” and “disconcert” the faithful.
“We have initiated a constructive dialogue with Mgr Guy de Kerimel, Archbishop of Toulouse, inviting him to reconsider the decision he had taken about the appointment of the chancellor of his diocese” indicates on Sunday the presidency of the Conference of Bishops of France in a press release.
“Indeed, such an appointment to such an important position, canonically and symbolically, can only rekindle wounds, awaken suspicion and disconcert the people of God,” said the organization.
“The Mercy Party”
At the beginning of June the Archbishop of Toulouse appointed to the post of Chancellor the priest Dominique Spina, sentenced in 2006 to five years in prison, one of which was suspended from the rape of a 16 -year -old high school student in 1993.
The archbishop explained that he “took the side of mercy” to appoint this priest to whom he “has nothing to blame” in an “administrative function” – the chancellor establishes administrative acts and puts an advice role.
A decision that aroused misunderstanding. In response, several collectives of victims of Catholic establishments of which Notre-Dame de Bétharram have expressed their “anger” in the face of an “unacceptable” situation.
“We have learned to look at these facts first from the point of view of people who have been the victims and who suffer the consequences all in length. This displacement of the gaze, the overwhelming listening to their distress and their pain, the welcome of their invitation to humbly pursue a path of truth humbly, began, for our ecclesial institution, a long and demanding conversion work, which we are resolved to continue, “says the Conference of the Bishops of France (CEF), chaired by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline.