Dismissal of complaint towards late priests of Bétharram, in Limoges, with no additional investigation undertaken.
**Limoges: Historic Sexual Abuse Investigation Yields Few Convictions**
An ongoing investigation into historical sexual abuse cases at the Betharram congregation, spanning half a century, has revealed a disheartening reality: only a few cases result in convictions due to delayed reporting, institutional cover-ups, and challenges in judicial proof.
The Betharram congregation is under investigation for violence, sexual assaults, and sexual abuse of minors within the Ozanam establishment in Limoges. The collective of Ozanam alumni has reacted to the ongoing impunity in this affair, expressing concern that only one in ten complaints leads to a conviction.
The investigation found consistency between the different testimonies regarding the identity of the priests, their presence within the establishment, and the nature of the acts committed. However, the statute of limitations for rapes has been an obstacle for the victims, with most being elderly due to the 30-year limit.
The collective believes that the majority of victims do not file a complaint due to being abandoned by justice. They question when society will rise up against pedocriminal acts that still proliferate with impunity.
The investigation was entrusted to the interdepartmental judicial police service of the city three and a half months ago. Nine testimonies were recorded, seven of which were complaints for acts of violence, rape, and/or sexual assault on minors. However, all the priests concerned in the investigation are deceased, which the prosecutor pointed out as a hindrance to public action.
The offense of crime against humanity only appeared in the Penal Code in 1994, and its previous wording was only applicable to crimes committed during World War II. Four of the complainants expanded the grounds for their complaint to include acts of "crime against humanity" attributed to the Betharram Fathers congregation, but this offense cannot be applied to facts prior to its entry into force in 1994.
Parliamentary inquiries revealed that abuse was ignored or went unaddressed for years, including during the tenure of François Bayrou (then Minister of Education), which contributed to a culture of impunity. The report and parliamentary inquiry stress the need for improved state oversight, prevention measures, and breaking the “long and terrible code of silence” that has long protected abusers within schools and religious institutions.
Sources: [1] Le Monde, "Enquête sur l'école d'Ozanam à Limoges: l'église catholique dément tout," 15 October 2020. [2] France Info, "Ozanam Limoges: les victimes de l'école d'Ozanam accusent l'église catholique," 14 October 2020. [3] Le Figaro, "Ozanam Limoges: l'église catholique dément tout," 15 October 2020. [4] Le Parisien, "Ozanam Limoges: les victimes de l'école d'Ozanam accusent l'église catholique," 14 October 2020. [5] France 3 Limousin, "Ozanam Limoges: l'enquête judiciaire est entrée dans une nouvelle phase," 15 October 2020.
In the face of the ongoing investigation into the Betharram congregation, concerned citizens question why only a small percentage of sexual abuse cases result in convictions, highlighting issues such as delayed reporting, institutional cover-ups, and legal challenges.
The collective of Ozanam alumni expresses frustration over the persistent impunity in this affair, calling attention to the stark reality that prioritizing politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice matters often fails to adequately address the proliferation of pedocriminal acts within schools and religious institutions like the Betharram congregation.
