Out of 32 Catholic establishments in Alsace, 12 are under the supervision of religious congregations. The diocesan direction of Catholic education in Alsace is also responsible for former congregational supervision and says it works “closely” with all these authorities to develop its work in the fight against sexual abuse committed. “A heavy legacy that we must assume today so that this does not happen again“.
A system “in the pipeline” accelerated by the Saint-André scandal
Already shattered by the revelations of sexual and physical violence at Notre-Dame de Bétharram, Catholic education, in Alsace this time, had to adapt quickly after the attacks on three Marianist fathers in one of its establishments were published in the local press at the beginning of January.
“The idea of the listening cell had been in the pipeline for quite some time, says Cécile-Eugénie Clot, assistant to the diocesan director and responsible for prevention issues within the DDEC Alsace.However, the events that were revealed by the Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace at the College of Saint André in the 1960s and 1970s accelerated its implementation. There was no question of the press being the only space where victims find a welcome and people to listen to them.†Engaged in a reparation process, the General Secretariat of Catholic Education provided them with elements to “consolidate the approach“. Other dioceses, such as Lyon, are already engaged in the process.
The missions are focused on reception
Contact with the team is by email at cellule.ecoute@ddec-alsace.fr. The team then offers the victim a slot to receive them in a dedicated space in Strasbourg, near the diocesan directorate of Catholic Education. At least two people will be present during the interview. But it is not necessary do not expect legal or psychological support.
“Initially, we chose reception above all, which does not exclude developing the system laterexplains the assistant. Our listening is part of the desire of the DDEC Alsace to engage in moral reparation and to welcome the words of the victims. But it is not up to us to qualify the facts or conduct an investigation.”Â
Our listening is part of the desire of the DDEC Alsace to engage in moral reparation and to welcome the words of the victims.
A “relay” and a complement to existing teams
The cell will however be able to establish the link of the victim, if it wishes, with the CRR (Commissions for the recognition and reparation of religious people of France) or the “Renaisre” device (former INIRR, reparation body of the Catholic Church), depending on whether the crimes are committed by religious or priests. If the violence was committed by educational staff, the team can contact National Education. “We can also act in relay to the competent authorities of the rectorate or to the employer if it concerns private law personnel.”
The DDEC team will also work with France Victims 67 which has already been working in Alsace alongside the diocesan cell since 2022. “We work in addition to better welcome the victims’ words and then relay them. Obviously, France Victimes has a system that is much broader than ours. They are accompanied by lawyers and psychologists, which is not our case at all. “
A trio trained internally to listen
In her previous missions within National Education, whether in the prison setting with young detainees or as responsible for combating discrimination linked to sexual orientation or gender identity, Cécile-Eugénie Clot has the experience of listening to different fragile audiences, although the experience remains new.
The very serious facts which are revealed shock us doubly, both as educators and as Christians.
At the head of the new team formed, she works in close collaboration with two professionals trained within the Catholic organization Le Cler. They know the environment well because they already work in Alsatian establishments as part of the EARS program (Emotional, Relational and Sexual Education).
In this context, the request of Pope Leo XIV to the bishops of France during their plenary assembly in Lourdes last week concerning Catholic teaching and the fight against abuse encouraged Cécile-Eugénie Clot: “This brings us joy and hope! Our establishments are places of education, but above all places of the Church where welcoming people and their integral education must be at the heart of all the projects carried out there..”
