Clerics in France reconsider decision to advance a cleric who has been found guilty of rape, as such move may fuels old injuries.
In a significant shift in stance, French Catholic authorities have expressed disapproval over the appointment of a priest convicted of sexual assault as chancellor. The controversy surrounding the appointment of Father Dominique Spina, who was convicted of raping a minor in 1993, has sparked strong backlash from victims, faithful, and senior Church officials.
Archbishop Guy de Kerimel, the Archbishop of Toulouse, appointed Father Spina to the position of chancellor, a role that establishes administrative acts and has an advisory role. However, the appointment was met with public criticism from the French Bishops' Conference, who deemed the situation as "unacceptable."
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille and the head of the French bishops’ conference, expressed "anger" at the appointment. Other bishops joined in the call for reconsideration, emphasizing the symbolic and canonical importance of such posts and the damage this decision could cause to victims and Church credibility.
Bishop Dominique Giraud publicly criticized the appointment as unacceptable and untenable, reflecting a broader institutional awareness that the Church must avoid "overlooking" attitudes and show authentic compassion and justice toward victims.
Responding to the outcry and the formal request from the bishops’ conference, Archbishop Guy de Kerimel rescinded Father Spina’s appointment and asked for forgiveness from the abuse victims. The bishops have explicitly stated that the Church has undergone a "long and demanding work of conversion" regarding sexual abuse and have committed to continuing this path, learning to prioritize the perspective and suffering of victims in their decisions.
Notre-Dame de Bétharram, one of the collectives of victims of Catholic institutions, expressed their anger over the appointment. The French Bishops' Conference has welcomed the invitation to continue humbly with the victims on a path of truth.
The controversy has led to a more vocal and unified stance among French Catholic leadership against appointing clergy with abuse convictions to positions of responsibility, representing a clearer prioritization of victims’ concerns and a more proactive institutional approach to safeguarding and accountability. The appointment of Father Dominique Spina revives suspicions among the people of God, underscoring the need for transparency and justice in Church appointments.
The controversy surrounding the appointment of Father Dominique Spina, who was convicted of raping a minor, has sparked a more vocal and unified stance among French Catholic leadership against appointing clergy with abuse convictions to positions of responsibility. This shift in stance is reflective of a priority being placed on victims' concerns and a proactive institutional approach to safeguarding and accountability.
The revival of suspicions among the people of God due to the appointment of Father Spina underscores the need for transparency and justice in Church appointments, particularly in the fields of science, health-and-wellness, and sexual-health, where trust is paramount.
