Barbarin admits ‘belated’ reaction to Lyon abuse scandal

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, has said his reaction to accusations of sexual abuse by diocesan priests was “belated” and would have been more prompt had he been in direct contact with victims, writes Tome Heneghan. One of those priests, Fr Bernard Preynat, will face a canonical trial in addition to the civil trial awaiting him, said Barbarin, adding he had asked Pope Francis to allow the canonical trial despite the cases being beyond the statute of limitations.

Preynat is suspected of abusing many minors during the 1980s and is under judicial investigation for four specific cases of abusing boy scouts between 1986 and 1991. He has admitted guilt and said his superiors knew of his activity.

Victims accuse Barbarin of ignoring the problem until early last year, despite being informed of Preynat’s abuse about 10 years ago. He has denied wrongdoing. “It is true that my awakening was belated,” the Cardinal told Le Parisien newspaper. “If I had been in direct contact with victims earlier and seen the seriousness of the damage, I would have said ‘we have to act immediately’,”he said.