The Abbey of St-Maurice announced this Saturday that Father Jean Scarcella decided to leave office. “I withdraw from my charge of abbot because I have acquired the certainty, matured in personal prayer and constructive dialogue, that it is now up to living forces to implement the measures decided in our action plan”, shares Jean Scarcella. This resignation is a continuation of the report presented a few days ago, highlighting a faulty management of cases of sexual abuse. Alerted from such situations, those responsible for the abbey would have tried to “camouflage”, “trivialize” or “minimize”, recalls the RTS. In his press release, Jean Scarcella reiterated his request for forgiveness to the victims and the faithful.
The abbot will be temporarily replaced at the head of the institution by the prior Simone Previte, waiting for a new abbot to be appointed, by the end of September. Questioned by the RTS, the prior explained that he had spoke with the abbot. Having felt that he did not have the strength in him to carry out the reforms that the abbey needs, he would have advised him to leave his place. For the record, Jean Scarcella had already reversed his duties temporarily, when a complaint concerning him had been filed. This case having been classified without follow -up, he had resumed his post.
