French survey finds majority support for resignation of Cardinal Barbarin
March 21, 2016
A French newspaper survey has found that 63% of the public believes that Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon should step down, because of complaints that he failed to removed an accused clerical abuser from active ministry.
However, among the practicing Catholics included in the survey, a solid majority believe that Cardinal Barbarin is innocent of wrongdoing and should remain in office.
Cardinal Barbarin has come under fire because of new accusations against a priest, Bernard Preynat, who had been temporarily suspended from ministry by a previous Archbishop of Lyon. Cardinal Barbarin has insisted that he never covered up evidence of abuse. There were no remaining complaints against Father Preynat when he arrived in Lyon, the cardinal said; when new accusations arose, he promptly suspended the priest.
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Further information:
- 63% des Français souhaitent la démission du cardinal Barbarin (Le Figaro)
- French premier pushes cardinal to take responsibility for priest's abuse (CWN, 3/15)
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