After police raid on archdiocesan offices, Cardinal Barbarin renews promise to cooperate with investigation

April 05, 2016

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, has renewed his promise to cooperate with officials investigating his handling of sex-abuse complaints, after police raided his office to search for documents related to the case of Father Bernard Preynat.

Church officials reported that "the Lyon archdiocese was made to hand over items sought by the justice authorities." But the official statement hinted that the police raid was unnecessary, since that the cardinal had promised "full transparency with the judicial process." 

Cardinal Barbarin has acknowledged that he had been aware of complaints against Father Preynat dating back to the late 1980s, but had accepted the priest's word that there were no more recent incidents. (Father Preynat had been suspended, then reinstated, by Cardinal Albert Decourtray, the head of the Lyon archdiocese at the time.) When new complaints were lodged, the cardinal immediately suspended the priest. Cardinal Barbarin has insisted that he never covered up evidence of abuse. 

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• French cardinal reiterates promise to cooperate with police on abuse (Catholic Herald)
• French cardinal apologizes for abuse; supporter notes prelate acted promptly on complaints (CWN, 3/24)