The former French Bishop of Orleans will be tried for not reporting a case of pedophilia



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Bishop André Fort, former bishop of Orleans (central France), will be tried for not having denounced the acts of pedophilia of a priest of his diocese, said Thursday a source Judiciary, bringing to two the number of French prelates prosecuted for Fact in more than 15 years.

"We had waited for this for seven years," said Edmond-Claude Fréty, civil lawyer. Fort, bishop of Orleans in 2002 and 2010, was indicted in 2017 for failing to denounce Pierre de Castelet, accused in 2012 of badual badault on children under 15 years .

Was referred to a correctional court for the same counts of indictment, while former parish priest De Castelet will be tried for badual badault against children under the age of 15. 15 years by an authority, said the prosecutor. Orléans, confirming the information provided by the information site Mediapart

Olivier Savignac, one of the alleged victims, was the first to report the incident in 2008, in an email sent to the headquarters of the diocese in which he denounced the aggression that suffered in 1993 in a camp of the Eucharistic Youth Movement in the south-west of France, where De Castelet officiated as chaplain.

Unanswered, he met Fort, telling him that a dozen young people were victims of the chaplain. 19659002] "He promised to act, but a year later, the abbot was still there.I have even learned that he was giving lectures on pedophilia in the school. Church, "said Savignac.

Since he did nothing, he returned to the headquarters of the diocese. Fort had already been removed and replaced by Bishop Jacques Blaquart.The new bishop warned the floor that he had opened an investigation

"Culture of silence"

"At the time, Monseigneur Fort left Orléans. He was sick and his resignation was accepted, "Fort de Fort de Benoit, Gaullier, justified on Thursday.

" My client thought that the young man did not want what he denounced was made public, but only wanted to ensure that Pierre de Castelet I no longer worked with children, "said De Gaullier to AFP

An argument vigorously rejected by Fréty, for whom" the law is very clear ":" he there is a legal obligation to report to the authorities the facts of which less than 15 years was victim. "

The lawyer castigated a" culture of silence that was maintained and, fortunately, one day she cracked. "According to him, the investigation would have left in evidence the cases of a dozens of victims allegedly subjected to a false medical examination by Father De Castelet, who pretends to be a doctor or a nurse.

Three alleged victims have joined the prosecution According to Blaquart, his predecessors were aware of these acts and took concrete "measures" against the 67-year-old priest "to prevent him from being in contact with "But they" did not complain, "he lamented.

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