Church psychoanalyst faces abuse allegations

A French priest and psychoanalyst who advised newly appointed bishops in 2015 that they did not have to report sex abuse allegations to the police faces a canonical inquiry in Toulouse archdiocese over abuse charges, writes Tom Heneghan. Mgr Tony Anatrella, dubbed “the Church’s shrink” in Paris, as he dealt with priests experiencing sexual problems, has denied the allegations brought by at least four former patients who said he abused them in sessions meant to “cure” their homosexuality.

Now 75, he has been a consultant to the Vatican’s Pontifical Councils for the Family and for Health Care Workers. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, who leads the pontifical body on child protection, promptly contradicted him after his comments to bishops in 2015 were published. Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris has admitted knowing of the sexual abuse allegations and has encouraged any victims to file a legal complaint.

Last summer, a Paris archdiocese committee led by an auxiliary bishop questioned Mgr Anatrella and some of his accusers and, on the basis of its report, the Cardinal decided to go ahead with the inquiry. It was opened in the archdiocese of Toulouse because Anatrella had long been a consultor for the Church tribunal in the Paris archdiocese.
Mgr Anatrella faced three accusations of sexual abuse in 2006 but two were dropped because they were beyond the 10-year statute of limitations. The third was judged too weak to prosecute.