Outrage as French Archbishop Promotes Priest Convicted of Sexual Abuse
A French archbishop’s decision to promote a priest who was convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.
Kokcha News Agency: The Archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, has come under fire for promoting a priest who was previously sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a minor. In June, Kerimel appointed Father Dominique Spina as the chancellor of the diocese, a position that oversees archives and administrative duties.
Spina was convicted in 2006 for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy, a crime that led to his imprisonment. The promotion has raised serious questions about the Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases, especially since church rules require that individuals in such positions have an “unblemished reputation free from any suspicion.”
In response to the backlash, Archbishop Kerimel defended his decision, stating that he acted out of “mercy” and that there was “nothing to incriminate” Spina in an administrative role. Kerimel acknowledged the concerns of the Catholic community but argued that without mercy, Spina would face “social death.”
“This in no way minimizes the crime,” Kerimel said, emphasizing the need to recognize and support the victim.
“A Great Shame for the Church”
The decision has been met with widespread criticism within the Catholic community. One bishop, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, called the appointment “a great shame for the Church” and argued that priests convicted of serious sexual offenses should never be given positions of responsibility.
Several groups representing victims of sexual abuse in Catholic schools also issued a joint statement expressing their “deep anger and outrage” over the decision. The Catholic daily newspaper *La Croix* cautioned that the principle of mercy “cannot be used as a hasty justification.”
Conservative Catholic website *Riposte Catholique* also weighed in, stating that the appointment “cannot be legitimized” and called for the Vatican to intervene.
