French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, who was under fire for his association with a priest who sexually abused children is now facing another cover up allegations. New reports claimed that Barbarin participated in promoting a cleric who was convicted in sexually assaulting adult students.
Le Parisien newspaper via Bangkok Post reported that Barbarin accepted the unidentified priest to work in his diocese in Central France despite his knowledge that he has a suspended 18-month jail sentence. The unnamed priest allegedly sexually assaulted students back in a residential home that he previously worked for. It was admitted that the alleged priest was not promoted from his position, but he's still working in a Lyon diocese. The French cardinal was under scrutiny this week after Prime Minister Manuel Valls challenged him to handle the accusations that disgraced the French church.
"The only message I have... is that (Barbarin) must take responsibility, speak and act."
In January, the French cardinal was under fire when he was alleged of covering up a priest named Bernard Preynat. Preynat was charged with sexually abusing Scouts from years 1986 to 1991. He pleaded guilty to the offense. The former students filed charges against the several senior officials in the Lyon diocese in eastern France, including Lyon archbishop Barbarin, France 24 reports. The victims claimed that the officials were aware of the abuse, but protected Preynat instead. Preynat was only removed from church service in May 2015.
"I have never covered up paedophilia," the French cardinal said in a conference where 120 bishops attended in Lourdes, southwestern France.
As reported by NCR Online, the victim of sexual abuse by the Lyon priest, now 42 years old pressed new charges to the French cardinal. He claimed that he was assaulted when he was 16 and until now the Lyon priest is still in service. The victim allegedly met Barbarin, but did nothing to remove the priest from service. The French cardinal only told him that the Lyon priest was detained in 2000 for exhibitionism.
The French cardinal reiterated that he did not cover up anyone in the incidents. The second priest was also in suspension until justice has been served. It took long years for France to regain its stance in fighting against abusive priests. Bishop Pierre Pican was convicted in 2001 after failing to report cases of abuse.
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