PARIS (FRANCE)
La Croix International [France]
March 26, 2025
By Louise de Maisonneuve
France’s independent church abuse authority has received 1,580 victim contacts and issued 852 compensation decisions since its creation in November 2021.
As of March 24, 2025, there were 1,580 people have contacted the National Independent Authority for Recognition and Reparation (INIRR) after three years of activity in France. Among them, “1,235 are being supported” by one of the 22 caseworkers, added its president, Marie Derain de Vaucresson. The institution was created in November 2021 after the publication of France’s Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church (CIASE) report. It offers victims of sexual violence in the church in France measures of financial reparation and restorative justice pathways.
Its president mentioned a “resumption of activity” in February, with 31 people reaching out to the authorities, compared to an average of 10 per month. It is “a consequence of the media coverage of sexual violence in the church linked to the Bétharram case and revelations about Abbé Pierre” that occurred in July 2024.
The Bétharram case involves reports of physical and sexual abuse at Notre-Dame de Bétharram, a private Catholic school near Lourdes. Abbé Pierre, the late Capuchin priest and founder of Emmaus International, was long hailed as a national hero for his work with the poor. That legacy came under scrutiny after a woman accused him of abusing her in the 1970s when she was a minor. Since then, dozens more have come forward with similar allegations of the priest who died in 2007 at the age of 94.
In 2024, 168 new requests were recorded, representing 11% of the referrals since the creation of INIRR. In total, 852 decisions had been issued as of March 24, 2025, with a financial component in 99% of the cases. Several hundred victims still await support, mainly due to recent revelations. These figures illustrate “the intensity of the support,” the president emphasized.
Further reading: Church in France reinforces support for sex abuse victims
Among the applicants, 66% are men, and 34% are women. The average age is 61, with a majority (30%) aged 61 to 70. 52% of victims reported at least one act of rape, while 46% experienced at least one act of sexual assault—furthermore, 52% of cases involved prolonged violence over a period of one to five years. The age at the time of the first acts of violence remained stable: 52% of victims were between 11 and 15 years old, 42% between 6 and 10 years old, 4% under 4 years old, 1% between 16 and 18 years old, and 1% between 18 and 21 years old.
A maximum compensation amount set at $64,800
As of December 31, 2024, the INIRR issued 765 decisions, 99% of which included financial compensation. Of these, 132 victims were awarded the maximum amount—€60,000 (about $64,800)—reflecting the severity of the abuse and its long-term impact.
Since 2022, 43% of victims have received between $43,200–$64,800. Nearly 46% received between $21,600 and $42,100, and 11% received less than $21,600. In 2024, the average compensation was approximately $39,350.
Further reading: Sexual Violence: Addressing the ’emergencies’ within the Church in France
In 2024, 29% of victims reported major repercussions on their emotional and relational life, while 23% reported somatic disorders and 20% difficulties in school or work.
Restorative steps: beyond compensation
Beyond the financial aspect, INIRR offered restorative steps to help victims rebuild themselves. According to the report, these offer “the restored power to act” and “anchor the reparation in reality.”
In 2024, 213 such steps were set up, compared to 187 in 2023. A quarter of them aimed to restore a link with the church, 19% to obtain a letter of acknowledgment from the institution, and 14% to undertake actions with the dioceses (information about the perpetrator, symbolic visit, etc.), meaning more than half of restorative requests involved the church.
Additionally, 13% of victims requested a referral to medical-psychosocial networks, 12% wished to testify in the media, 10% sought support to speak with their relatives, and 8% undertook a memorial process. These actions allow victims to put words to their story and keep an official recognition record.
Further reading: Nearly 1,400 sex abuse victims seek compensation from Catholic Church in France
The INIRR will continue its mission until summer 2026. On March 22, 2024, the bishops gathered in Lourdes decided to extend the mandate of INIRR President Marie Derain de Vaucresson until June 31, 2026. However, according to the bishops, a discussion is ongoing about how to make this system “ordinary and permanent.” No official decision has been made at this time.