One Bishop disowns another Bishop in France

Spina Affair: Bishop Eychenne disavows Bishop Kerimel

As we wrote, Bishop Kerimel's statement and its questionable theological and legal deviations on mercy, forgiveness, and restorative justice have far from calmed the crisis surrounding the Spina affair—the priest convicted of rape who was appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Toulouse at the beginning of the summer, before this appointment was rescinded after six weeks of stubbornness. In fact, the statement has only rekindled it—as if the Bishop of Toulouse had a crying need to focus attention and criticism on himself rather than on current events in his diocese or its management.

Thus, on social media, Bishop Jean-Marie le Gall, former moderator of the Saint-Martin community and former Rector of the Montligeon sanctuary – he had resigned with a bang in 2014 just after the loss of the Portuguese pilgrimage – cites a ludicrous article defending Bishop de Kerimel, who claims that not honoring people with prominent diocesan functions "reduces the Faith to a social and security morality."

However, he is contradicted by a former member of the Saint-Martin community – he left to join the Diocese of Orléans in 1994 – and his successor in the See of Grenoble, Bishop Eychenne. For the latter, "reintegrating into society and the Church, granting a dignified place (inalienable human dignity) is not making someone an example, a model, and honoring them with a distinction."

What a shame that Bishop Eychenne did not embrace these principles during his administration in Ariège, where he left unresolved some rather difficult canonical situations unresolved...

Even Le Point is surprised by Bishop de Kerimel's eagerness to confuse perseverance in good with relentless persevering in evil.

Le Point was also surprised by the Bishop of Toulouse's statement: "Instead of closing a case that has caused enormous unease for several months within the Church of France, Bishop de Kerimel not only refuses to give up, but he is reigniting the controversy. The Archbishop of Toulouse wants to invite a debate on redemption, mercy, forgiveness, and even 'restorative justice,' but once again to justify his decision to appoint this priest [...] A text that is already provoking the anger of many faithful and priests on social media."

Le Point highlights Bishop de Kerimel's clumsiness throughout: "A rapist priest who has served the sentence imposed by the courts has the right to be reintegrated into society, of course. But that he should be reintegrated into a key, prestigious position with a strong symbolic significance, that of chancellor, within one of the largest dioceses in France, is shocking. Not Bishop de Kerimel."

And concludes: "The victims will appreciate it. As will the many outraged faithful and priests. And the bishops? Currently on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, they have not yet officially reacted to this stubbornness of one of their own, which goes against the decisions taken by the Church of France in the fight against sexual violence."

One thing is certain: the Spina affair in Toulouse, the Renaud affair in Angers, Bishop Colomb in La Rochelle—implicated in the MEP scandal—demoted in favor of a coadjutor with full powers, until then Bishop of Limoges, the faithful of Notre-Dame de Valence ignored and persecuted by their bishop, abuse cases breaking out every day, with their corollary of victims' groups, calls for testimony, embarrassed explanations from prelates and congregation superiors—when they return from the Holy Land, the bishops will find war also in the Church of France. With the entire people of God as hostages.

Quousque tandem abutere, Episcopi, patientia nostra?

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