Spina Affair: Archbishop de Kerimel attempts to school victims, the Church and the world on restorative justice

After bluntly announcing on Facebook the resignation of Father Spina – a priest convicted of rape of a minor – from the position of Chancellor of the Diocese of Toulouse and the appointment of his replacement, Archbishop de Kerimel of Toulouse saw fit to put another hundred cents back in the jukebox by continuing to justify the unjustifiable and giving lessons in restorative justice.

The inspiration for the misleading rhetoric of mercy

This is probably not the best way to end the controversy with his own congregation, other bishops, or victims' associations, as the statement raises many more questions – including about Archbishop de Kerimel's ability to lead his diocese and his understanding of the CIASE report and the issue of abuse.

Victims who might also notice that Father Spina remained silent throughout the controversy and never apologized, or be surprised that Bishop de Kerimel calls on the apostles to rescue his flawed theology, including among the repentant criminals a prostitute—who is more likely a victim, but here again, Bishop de Kerimel reverses the culpability—a tax collector (sic!).

Furthermore, when a school counselor or teacher is banned for life from any activity with minors, even on a voluntary basis, after committing abuse, and is removed from the civil service, no one cries out that he is socially or professionally dead.

In the name of what twisted vision of justice, fraternity, or mercy must the Church continue to keep perpetrators of abuse within its ranks, give them positions in its judicial system (canonical justice), promote them, or even give them the opportunity to do it again? Does Bishop de Kerimel, who says he "trusts" a priest who raped a minor, who at the time ruined a religious vocation and a man for life, prefer his fallen priests to the victims and his faithful?

This would then be a terrible case of clericalism, where the "fraternal mercy" that the bishop seems to owe to the perpetrators of abuse would be synonymous with a criminal conspiracy.

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