A growing scandal surrounding Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, a Catholic school in France, has shaken the country. Allegations of physical violence and sexual abuse against minors have surfaced, prompting an official response from the Catholic Church.
In a statement issued on February 20, the Conference of Bishops of France acknowledged the severity of the accusations and condemned the alleged abuses as completely incompatible with Catholic values.
A Call for Transparency and Support for Victims
The Church’s response comes amid increasing pressure, as more victims step forward. According to Linternaute, at least 20 former students have filed formal complaints, while over 130 individuals have given testimony to a victims' association.
In its statement, the Conference of Bishops expressed deep sorrow for the victims and thanked those who found the courage to speak out. It emphasized the need to break the silence around violence, sexual abuse, and mistreatment in educational settings.
The bishops reaffirmed that such actions are "in total contradiction with the spirit of Catholic teaching."
Failures in Oversight and the Need for Reform
Despite the Church's condemnation of the alleged abuse, the bishops also acknowledged failures in oversight.
They lamented that multiple inspections by both the national education system and Catholic education authorities over the past 50 years failed to uncover the extent of the reported mistreatment.
While the bishops reaffirmed their trust in Catholic education, they also called for a large-scale child protection initiative. They urged that such efforts extend beyond Catholic institutions to include all schools, public and private.
A Commitment to Justice and Prevention
The Church has pledged full participation in strengthening child protection measures. This commitment follows the work of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), which was established in 2018 to investigate abuse cases within Catholic institutions.
As legal proceedings continue and more testimonies emerge, the Church’s response to the Bétharram scandal will be closely scrutinized.
With calls for accountability growing louder, the Catholic leadership in France faces renewed pressure to ensure that past failures are not repeated.
