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| Founder of French Charity Is Accused of Pattern of Sexual Abuse | Founder of French Charity Is Accused of Pattern of Sexual Abuse |
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| PARIS — The founder of a French charity who helped improve the lives of people with learning disabilities for over half a century had also sexually abused at least six women, the charity has revealed in a new internal report. | PARIS — The founder of a French charity who helped improve the lives of people with learning disabilities for over half a century had also sexually abused at least six women, the charity has revealed in a new internal report. |
| The report, released last week by the French-based charity, L’Arche International, said that Jean Vanier, the charity’s founder, had engaged in “manipulative sexual relationships” with women from 1970 to 2005 and had a “psychological hold” over the victims. | The report, released last week by the French-based charity, L’Arche International, said that Jean Vanier, the charity’s founder, had engaged in “manipulative sexual relationships” with women from 1970 to 2005 and had a “psychological hold” over the victims. |
| None of the women who said they had been abused by Mr. Vanier had a disability. Some worked in the community, and some were nuns. | None of the women who said they had been abused by Mr. Vanier had a disability. Some worked in the community, and some were nuns. |
| Mr. Vanier, a Canadian religious leader who founded the charity in 1964, died in Paris last year at age 90. | Mr. Vanier, a Canadian religious leader who founded the charity in 1964, died in Paris last year at age 90. |
| The inquiry was commissioned in 2019 by the nonprofit charity after suspicions were raised as far back as 2014 by “two women denouncing serious sexual misconduct” committed by Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest and scholar whom Mr. Vanier a considered a spiritual father. | The inquiry was commissioned in 2019 by the nonprofit charity after suspicions were raised as far back as 2014 by “two women denouncing serious sexual misconduct” committed by Thomas Philippe, a Catholic priest and scholar whom Mr. Vanier a considered a spiritual father. |
| The investigation was carried out by the independent British-based GCPS Consulting, which collected testimonies of women who reported “similar facts” associated with highly unusual “spiritual or mystical explanations used to justify these behaviors,” the report said. | The investigation was carried out by the independent British-based GCPS Consulting, which collected testimonies of women who reported “similar facts” associated with highly unusual “spiritual or mystical explanations used to justify these behaviors,” the report said. |
| The investigation also relied on testimonies from 30 other people, including managers of the charity. | The investigation also relied on testimonies from 30 other people, including managers of the charity. |
| In a statement, L’Arche France said that some of the women “still have deep wounds” from the abuse. “All these women described the significant negative impact on their lives and on their subsequent relationships,” the report said. | In a statement, L’Arche France said that some of the women “still have deep wounds” from the abuse. “All these women described the significant negative impact on their lives and on their subsequent relationships,” the report said. |
| It said Mr. Vanier had asked his victims to keep the events secret. | It said Mr. Vanier had asked his victims to keep the events secret. |
| “He said: ‘This is not us, this is Mary and Jesus. You are chosen, you are special, this is secret,’” one woman said. | “He said: ‘This is not us, this is Mary and Jesus. You are chosen, you are special, this is secret,’” one woman said. |
| Said another: “I realized that Jean Vanier was adored by hundreds of people, as a living saint who gave his support to victims of sexual abuse. It seemed like camouflage and I found it difficult to raise the issue.” | Said another: “I realized that Jean Vanier was adored by hundreds of people, as a living saint who gave his support to victims of sexual abuse. It seemed like camouflage and I found it difficult to raise the issue.” |
| The accusations came at a time of reckoning for France over its attitudes about the abuse of women, and in the Catholic Church about decades of abuse by priests. The #MeToo movement that brought waves of accusations from women daring to speak up about harassment, predatory behavior and sexual violence in other countries met cultural resistance in the country. | The accusations came at a time of reckoning for France over its attitudes about the abuse of women, and in the Catholic Church about decades of abuse by priests. The #MeToo movement that brought waves of accusations from women daring to speak up about harassment, predatory behavior and sexual violence in other countries met cultural resistance in the country. |
| L’Arche, rooted in the Roman Catholic Church, has 153 communities in 38 countries. When Mr. Vanier died, the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of America, a magazine of Catholic thought, said in a telephone interview, “He was one of the great saints of our time.” | L’Arche, rooted in the Roman Catholic Church, has 153 communities in 38 countries. When Mr. Vanier died, the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of America, a magazine of Catholic thought, said in a telephone interview, “He was one of the great saints of our time.” |
| “Of all the people in our time who minister to people on the margins, I would say he and Mother Teresa were the avatars for Catholics,” Father Martin said at the time. “Jean Vanier showed us the great strength of tenderness and vulnerability and weakness, which is Christ’s message.” | “Of all the people in our time who minister to people on the margins, I would say he and Mother Teresa were the avatars for Catholics,” Father Martin said at the time. “Jean Vanier showed us the great strength of tenderness and vulnerability and weakness, which is Christ’s message.” |
| Pope Francis had also lauded Mr. Vanier, saying, “I want to thank him, and thank God for having given us this man.” | |
| L’Arche’s statement also said Mr. Vanier had been a member of a small clandestine group that adopted participated in some of the sexual practices of Father Philippe, who died in 1993. | L’Arche’s statement also said Mr. Vanier had been a member of a small clandestine group that adopted participated in some of the sexual practices of Father Philippe, who died in 1993. |
| The current leaders of L’Arche, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates-Carney, said in a letter to the L’Arche Federation published on Saturday that they were shocked by the discoveries and denounced the actions of Mr. Vanier and Father Philippe. | |
| “We are truly and deeply sorry for how these women have suffered,” the statement said. | “We are truly and deeply sorry for how these women have suffered,” the statement said. |