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The Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday, October 18, a few days after the devastating report that revealed that at least 300,000 children were sexually abused by French clergy and close associates since 1950. Castex He pointed out that the church will not back down on the controversial confession secret in this matter. However, the pontiff has confirmed that fighting against this scourge is a priority.
This is the first meeting between a senior French government official and Pope Francis, following the report published on October 5 that revealed that at least 300,000 minors were abused by bishops, priests of the French Catholic Church and their employees in the last 70 years.
The Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, met with the pontiff at the Vatican to commemorate the centenary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See. However, the devastating report was also the focus of the meeting.
“He trusts that the Church in France will draw conclusions. He is pleased that there has been no denial, “Castex said after the 35-minute meeting with the pontiff.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex meets Pope Francis at the Vatican as the French Catholic Church battles a storm over clerical child sex abuse and the sanctity of confession.https://t.co/7VmXOmFE6o
– Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 18, 2021
According to investigations by a commission established by Catholic bishops in France in late 2018 but which worked independently of the Church, the published abuses occurred from 1950 to 2000.
But the figure could rise to at least 330,000 if attacks by lay members of the Church are included. About 80% of the victims were male, children between the ages of 10 and 13.
“The Church will not back down in the dogma of the secret of confession”
The revelations have also been surrounded by the controversy over the confidentiality of the confession in this matter. A dispute broke out earlier this month when Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, director of the French Episcopal Conference, said priests were not required to report sexual abuse if they found out during the Catholic confession ritual.
Although controversial, his remarks were in line with updated Vatican guidelines last year. These indicate that confession is subject to the “strictest bond of the sacramental seal”, so the church urges to convince the confessor to tell what happened to another person, but does not oblige the religious who has knowledge of it to reveal the information in an act of confession.
“The Church will not back down in the dogma of the secrecy of confession. But we must at all costs find ways and means to reconcile this with criminal law, the rights of the victims,” Castex said after his conversation with Pope Francis.
Jorge Bergoglio, who has made the fight against the worldwide scourge of pedophilia within the church, has expressed feeling “shame” by the findings, echoing a similar sentiment of the leaders of the French church. They continue to be criticized by those who consider that reliable measures have not been taken to punish those responsible and prevent further abuses.
During their meeting, the French official also gave Pope Francico, an enthusiastic soccer fan, an unusual gift: a Paris-Saint Germain jersey signed by fellow Argentine pontiff Lionel Messi. He unveiled the number 30 glass-framed jersey after private conversations at the Vatican.
With Reuters and EFE
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