Further alleged victims of a canon of Saint-Maurice
Published: Tuesday, Jul 9th 2024, 18:20
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New allegations of inappropriate behavior have been made against the canon of Saint-Maurice Abbey, Gilles Roduit, who went on hunger strike in May of this year. The abbey regrets the latest revelations.
It was "saddened to learn" that there were further witness statements from people who had been injured by the canon's behavior, Saint-Maurice Abbey wrote in a press release on Tuesday. "We are thinking first and foremost of the victims," it added.
The "Mise au Point" program on French-speaking Swiss television RTS reported on Sunday that at least two other women had accused the canon of inappropriate behaviour in the 2000s. The first reported comments with sexual content when she was still a child. The second recalled the canon touching her thigh on the sidelines of religious education classes.
The Valais public prosecutor's office confirmed to the Keystone-SDA news agency that it had received new reports of inappropriate behavior by the canon.
Roduit was removed from his position as priest and dean last November. He had been accused of abusing a novice in the 2000s, which the priest always denied.
The ousted pastor felt he was being treated unfairly and went on a hunger strike in May, which he made public. After five days, he was reinstated as a pastor.
The abbey will reassess the cleric's situation as soon as it receives official feedback from the secular judicial authorities, the abbey's communiqué continued.
©Keystone/SDA
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