Beloved priest Abbe Pierre was the conscience of France. Several women now accuse him of assault
PARIS (AP) — A legendary French priest and a life-long advocate of
the homeless was accused of committing acts that would amount to “sexual
assault or sexual harassment,” the international foundation he
established said in a statement Wednesday.
Abbé Pierre, who died
in 2007, was one of France’s most beloved public figures. The founder of
the international Emmaus Community for the poor, Abbé Pierre had served
as France’s conscience since the 1950s, when he persuaded Parliament to
pass a law — still on the books — forbidding landlords to evict tenants
during winter.
Several women have accused the late priest of
sexual assault or harassment between the end of the 1970s and 2005, his
foundation said in a statement. It explained that it is making public
the allegations of seven women, including one who was a minor at the
time of abuse, after reviewing the report of an expert firm, which
specializes in violence prevention, that was commissioned to listen to
women’s testimonies, and analyze them.
“The Emmaus Community is making public the acts that may amount to
sexual assault or sexual harassment, committed by Abbé Pierre,” the
statement said. It added that several other women had “suffered
comparable acts” of sexual abuse, but were unable to be heard. The
alleged victims were employees, volunteers with the foundation or some
of its member organizations, or young women in Abbé Pierre’s personal
entourage, the statement also said.
