FRANCE
France 24
A French cardinal accused of covering up for a paedophile priest, in a scandal that has rocked the local Catholic Church, admitted Monday to “errors in the management and nomination of certain priests”.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, made the admission in a statement after a meeting at the bishop’s residence in Lyon to discuss accusations the church failed to report several child sexual abuse cases in the area.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors and attended by some 220 priests, heard from a victim of Bernard Preynat, a priest who has admitted sexually abusing scouts under his supervision over 25 years ago.
Several complaints have been brought against Barbarin for failing to inform the authorities about Preynat and other priests targeted by abuse allegations in his diocese.
The media-friendly cardinal, one of the top figures in the Church in France, has vehemently denied any cover-up.
“The cardinal recognised that the diocese committed errors in the management and nomination of certain priests,” the statement issued after Monday’s meeting said.
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