Nine New Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Abbé Pierre in a Disturbing Report

The third report from the specialized firm Egaé, commissioned by Emmaüs to investigate Abbé Pierre’s actions, reveals nine new testimonies of sexual abuse, bringing the total number of accusations against the priest, who passed away in 2007, to 33. These incidents occurred between the 1960s and the 2000s, predominantly in France, though some took place abroad. While most of the victims are women, one testimony involves the rape of a minor boy.

A Range of Alarming Accounts

The testimonies paint a disturbing picture of the priest’s actions. Danièle, 73, recounted repeated sexual assaults during a humanitarian mission to Bangladesh in 1972, following a typhoon and civil war. She described groping, forced kissing, and being made to witness a masturbation act. “I was not consenting; I was under a form of control,” she said in an interview with “Envoyé spécial.”

Among the new allegations, one describes a “sexual act with penetration” involving a minor. Although the victim provided evidence to substantiate their claim, they requested their identity remain anonymous. Another account comes from a family member of Abbé Pierre, who described unwanted sexual contact in the late 1990s.

Silencing Mechanisms and Coercion

The Egaé report highlights that the victims’ profiles are diverse, ranging from Abbé Pierre’s family members to flight attendants, hospital workers, volunteers in humanitarian missions, and others. These testimonies report a variety of abuses, from inappropriate physical contact to forced attempts at kissing.

The report warns that these testimonies do not represent a comprehensive overview of Abbé Pierre’s actions. Some testimonies remain anonymous, and others are incomplete. The firm also mentioned that certain victims, for various reasons, have not yet come forward or have passed away. Several more victims are expected to be identified as the investigation progresses.

One of the key findings of the report is the existence of “silencing mechanisms.” It suggests that many victims were intimidated or threatened into silence by Abbé Pierre through manipulative or coercive behavior. Many victims recount trying to speak out, only to be disbelieved or dismissed by those around them.

These new allegations come after previous revelations in July and September 2024, which shocked the public. In response to the growing number of accusations, Emmaüs decided to rename the Abbé Pierre Foundation and close the memorial dedicated to him. Furthermore, the Foundation has announced the creation of an independent commission to examine the institutional failures that allowed Abbé Pierre’s abuse to continue for over fifty years.

Caroline De Haas, co-founder of the Egaé group, emphasized that the full extent of Abbé Pierre’s actions has yet to be uncovered. “We are deeply convinced that we’ve only uncovered part of the truth about what Abbé Pierre did,” she remarked. She also described the scale of the violence involved as “beyond comprehension.” As the investigation moves forward, victims and their families are hopeful that the full truth will eventually emerge, alongside reparative measures.