Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Abuse Scandal: Victims Demand Justice After Decades of Silence

An investigation into decades of abuse at a Catholic institution escalates, with two suspects still in custody and political figures under scrutiny for past inaction.

Over 130 complaints of physical and sexual abuse at Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram have been filed, detailing incidents spanning from 1957 to 2004.
Two suspects, including a former school employee and a lay supervisor, remain in custody, while a third, a retired priest, has been released from questioning.
Victims describe a pervasive culture of violence, exploitation, and silence during their time at the institution, with some accounts dating back to the 1950s.
Prime Minister François Bayrou faces allegations of prior knowledge of abuse during his tenure as Minister of Education in the 1990s, which he denies.
The French government has announced strengthened oversight measures for private schools, while a parliamentary commission investigates state and institutional failures.