Police search offices of Lyon archdiocese

Justice authorities have searched offices of Lyon archdiocese for material relating to accusations against Cardinal Philippe Barbarin that he did not report child-abusing priests, writes Tom Heneghan.

The archdiocese said it handed over “material that justice authorities sought to shed light on these painful events” and stressed its readiness to cooperate with the investigation. The accusations concern alleged abuse of boy scouts between 1986 and 1991 by a priest who was not removed from ministry until last year.

Media attention on the case and the cardinal remains high. Two cases of clerical sexual abuse in Lyon, not involving Barbarin directly, have been added to the list of scandals. In one judicial authorities have reopened the case of a priest accused by a young girl of sexual aggression that was taken up then shelved in 2006. The other concerns an 81-year-old priest barred from ministry in 2001. Barbarin, who became archbishop in 2002, upheld that decision.