« It is essential that, as a Church, we recognize and condemn with sorrow and shame the atrocities committed by consecrated persons, by members of the clergy, but also by all those who have the mission of watching over and protecting the most vulnerable. »
Pope Francis, Letter to the People of God – August 20, 2018
The revelation of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has rightly shocked public opinion and Christian communities. Preventing sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable persons is a major priority for the Church.
In France, significant work and numerous resources…
In France, excellent groundwork has been carried out by the Independent Commission against Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), which published its report on October 5, 2021, with a number of recommendations. See the link: final-report .
The Augustinians of the Assumption are involved with the Conference of Religious Men and Women of France (CORREF) “Emprise-et-abus” (Control and Abuse) and Recognition and Reparation Commission (CRR)
See also the resources of the Conference of Bishops of France:
“Fighting pedophilia” and “Control and sectarian abuses”
The congregation is committed
> to fighting sexual assault and control (see also Bayard’s commitments in this area)
> to work for restorative justice for victims of abuse
> to set up training programs in this area for our religious (see our charter in this area, to which our religious are committed and which has been in place since 2008).
> to establish a charter of good pastoral practices (work in progress)
Reporting sexual abuse
If you have been a victim or know someone who has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, you can contact the following in complete confidentiality:
In France :
For victims of violence and sexual abuse in the Catholic Church: a national number:
01 41 83 42 17.
7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Online, counselors from the France Victimes association will put you in touch with associations near you that can provide legal, psychological, and social assistance.
You can also send a message to:
The Conference of Bishops of France
paroledevictimes@cef.fr
The Conference of Religious Men and Women of France ecoutevictimes@corref.fr
In France and elsewhere in the world:
If the assault involves an Assumptionist religious, you can contact the Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists) directly by writing to the following address: ecouteabus@assomption.org