Famed clergyman Father Pierre accused of sexual assault on seven women

The organizations Emmaus France, Emmaus International, and the Abbot Pierre Foundation (fr. Fondation Abbe Pierre) reported that the well-known clergyman was accused of sexual assault on at least seven women.

In a statement published on the website of the Abbot Pierre Foundation, it was announced that in 2023, a report emerged about a woman who was a victim of such an assault by the clergyman. At that time, the three organizations turned to the experts of the Egae group to determine whether other such cases could have occurred.

"This work meant the testimonies of seven women could be gathered, attesting to behavior that could be interpreted as sexual assault or sexual harassment," between 1970 and 2005, the statement said. It was added that one of these women was underage at that time.

The established facts concern employees and volunteers of some organizations, as well as young women belonging to Father Pierre's personal circle. As explained in the report published on the Emmaus International website, two individuals described inappropriate personal behavior that made them uncomfortable. One described a sexual proposition, another repeated comments with sexual connotations, and several others - attempted physical contact without their consent.

The French Catholic Church stated on Wednesday that it received these reports with pain and wants to assure the victims of "deep compassion and shame that such acts could be committed by a priest."

Father Pierre (Abbe Pierre) was the founder of the Emmaus movement, which is known in many countries and aims to support the poorest, the homeless, and refugees. He was born in1912 in Lyon to a wealthy family as Henri Groues and entered the Capuchin order in 1931. In 1949, he founded the Emmaus Association and established the first shelter for the poor in Neuilly-Plaisance. He passed away in 2007.