Administrator of St. Maurice Abbey wants to call in external help
Published: Wednesday, Dec 6th 2023, 11:20
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The Apostolic Administrator, who has been entrusted with the management of Saint-Maurice VS Abbey following the discovery of cases of sexual abuse, wants to request external help with the investigation. It is "essential" to involve lay people.
In an interview with the Valais daily newspaper "Nouvelliste", Canon Jean-Michel Girard said that it was necessary to fully investigate out of respect for the victims. This is the least that can be done and is necessary to avoid false accusations.
The abbey needs people who are more competent than itself, who have more distance and can view the situation from a more neutral perspective. The form in which "external help" is to be sought has not yet been determined.
Girard, former provost of the Great St. Bernard, was appointed Apostolic Administrator at the end of November. Following a preliminary study by the University of Zurich, Abbot Jean Scarcella, who was suspected of sexual abuse and its cover-up, resigned from office "to ensure the independence of the investigation". His interim successor Roland Jaquenoud also resigned after he was accused of sexually abusing an adult novice.
©Keystone/SDA
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