A French archbishop has reversed his decision to appoint a priest convicted of rape as chancellor of the Toulouse Archdiocese and asked forgiveness of the victims of abuse, whom he had no intention of offending. Source: CNA.
“In order not to cause division among bishops, and not to remain at a standoff between those for and against, I decided to reverse my decision; this has now been done, with the appointment of a new chancellor,” Archbishop Guy de Kirimel said in a statement on Saturday.
The reversal of the appointment of Fr Dominique Spina, a priest sentenced in 2006 to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old boy in 1993, came after the French Bishops’ Conference asked the archbishop on August 11 to “reconsider the decision”.
The French prelates stated at the time that “an appointment of such importance, both canonically and symbolically, can only reopen wounds, arouse suspicions, and disconcert the people of God”.
Speaking about sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the Church in France, the bishops noted that “we have learned to look at these events first from the point of view of the people who were their victims and who suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives”.
“This shift in perspective,” the bishops continued, has initiated “a long and demanding work of conversion, which we are determined to continue.”
Accepting the request of the French bishops, Archbishop De Kirimel appointed Fr Léopold Biyoki as the new chancellor of the Archdiocese of Toulouse, effective September 1.
“My decision was interpreted by many as a snub to victims of sexual abuse; I ask forgiveness of the victims. That was obviously not my intention,” the archbishop wrote in his statement.
“Others in the end saw it as a sign of hope for abusers who had served their time and are experiencing the great trial of being totally shunned by society. For that I must ask forgiveness from the one I named and in whom I have confidence, for not having known how to find the right place to which he is entitled.”
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French archbishop rescinds appointment of priest convicted of rape, asks for forgiveness (By Walter Sánchez Silva, CNA)
