Revelations that Jean Vanier had indecent and abusive sexual relationships with at least six women have been deeply shocking to the many who revered him in his lifetime as a living saint. The French Canadian founder of the L’Arche movement, which does wonderful and inspiring work with mentally disabled people, was clearly flawed in a way that few suspected. None of his six victims was disabled but they were all connected with L’Arche. The evidence indicates that their involvement with him caused them long-term emotional harm, which he repeatedly refused to acknowledge.

Two details make the disclosure in a report commissioned by L’Arche International, the charity he founded, particularly distressing. Vanier was a close disciple of a French Dominican priest, Thomas Philippe, who had been sanctioned in 1954 by the Holy Office (later called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) for his unorthodox spiritual practices, including the sexual abuse of women.