French Bishop Georges Colomb Accused of Attempted Rape in 2013

Allegations Known to Church for Years, Reach Prosecutors in 2023 Amid Growing Number of Sexual Abuse Accusations Against French Clergy

Bishop Georges Colomb is accused of attempting to rape an adult man in 2013 while he was head of the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP).
The allegations didn't reach prosecutors until May 2023, despite senior figures in the Catholic Church reportedly being aware of them for years.
Colomb, who became a bishop in 2016, contests the charge and has asked the Vatican to allow him to step aside from his duties to prepare his defense.
Colomb is under judicial supervision and barred from contact with the victim or witnesses pending further investigation.
This is the latest in a series of sexual abuse accusations against clergy in France, with a 2021 report estimating that 330,000 children were sexually abused over 70 years by priests or other church-related figures in the country.