Over 150 Abuse Claims Surface Against Catholic Schools in France

Victims of Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram and other institutions detail decades of physical and sexual violence, with calls for accountability growing louder.

A total of 152 complaints, including 40 new ones, have been filed against Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram for alleged abuses spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
The accused include priests, lay staff, and a former dormitory supervisor known as 'Cheval,' who is implicated in numerous acts of cruelty and sexual violence but shielded by the statute of limitations.
Similar allegations have emerged against other Catholic institutions, such as Notre-Dame-de-Garaison and a school in Dax, highlighting systemic abuse across multiple schools.
Victims and advocacy groups are urging the Catholic Church and relevant authorities to break their silence and take full responsibility for the abuses committed under their watch.
Legal challenges persist due to the statute of limitations, with only one individual currently facing prosecution, while others accused of crimes are deceased or legally protected from charges.