Bishop quits amid rumours of improper behaviour

Bishop Hervé Gaschignard of Aire et Dax in southwest France has resigned at the Vatican’s request after rumours circulated about his behaviour with young people and Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, the Bordeaux metropolitan bishop, was asked to investigate, writes Tom Heneghan.

“His behaviour provoked emotion and trouble among several youths, who spoke to their families about it,” according to a statement by the archdiocese of Bordeaux. Media reports said the bishop was overly physical in his contact with young people and sometimes asked about their private lives.

One family reported this to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which informed the papal nuncio Archbishop Luigi Ventura, according to the daily La Croix. Church officials stressed that no sexual abuse was involved. “The Holy See decided that … the exercise of episcopal ministry of Bishop Hervé Gaschignard had become difficult and asked him to present his resignation,” the Bordeaux statement said.

The Vatican request was transmitted by the nuncio and the Bordeaux statement specifically said “the Holy See” asked for Bishop Gaschignard’s resignation.