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2mo ago

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.

Le porte-parole des victimes de l'école Bétharram, Alain Esquerre, rencontre le procureur de la République de Pau, Rodolphe Jarry, le 27 février.
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L’école Le Beau Rameau, anciennement Notre-Dame de Bétharram à Lestelle-Bétharram, près de Pau.

Overview

  • 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.