French Church Faces Reckoning Over Alleged Abuse at Bétharram Institution

Victims confront Church leaders over decades of alleged physical and sexual abuse, prompting admissions of institutional failure and calls for accountability.

• A press conference held by the Diocese of Bayonne addressed over 100 allegations of abuse at the Bétharram institution between 1970 and 1990.
• Victims and advocates, including Arnaud Gallais, accused the Church of systemic cover-ups and negligence in addressing abuse claims.
• The Church admitted to historical silence on abuse cases, with leaders expressing shame and pledging to prioritize victim reparations and institutional reform.
• One accused priest, Henri Lamasse, was sanctioned by the Church after admitting to a decades-old sexual assault, though legal action is barred due to statute limitations.
• Victims and advocates criticized past inaction by both the Church and civil authorities, demanding greater transparency, justice, and preventative measures.

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