Abbé Pierre: Early Access to Church Archives Sparks New Investigation
Church's Unprecedented Move on Abbé Pierre's Archives
The Conférence des évêques de France (CEF) has announced the immediate opening of its archives concerning Abbé Pierre to researchers. Traditionally, these archives are sealed for 75 years, but this decision allows a commission by Emmaus to investigate the priest's past. President Éric de Moulins-Beaufort stated, “The archives are open to researchers... we decided to allow access, particularly to Emmaus' inquiry.”
Details About the Archives
Located in Issy-les-Moulineaux, these archives are separate from diocesan records. They reportedly contain a thin dossier with a few letters indicating the Church’s awareness of Abbé Pierre's behavior. There are references to his departure to Switzerland in the 1950s, but details remain sparse.
Need for Historical Inquiry
Despite the revelations, Bishop de Moulins-Beaufort expressed uncertainty about who within the Church was aware of the accusations. He mentioned that while some bishops knew about certain incidents, a detailed historical inquiry is necessary to clarify the extent of knowledge held by Church officials.
Context of the Ongoing Investigation
Following new allegations against Abbé Pierre for sexual misconduct revealed on September 6, Emmaus established an independent commission to investigate the operational failures that allowed these actions over decades. Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort reiterated that Abbé Pierre was more engaged with Emmaus than within ecclesiastical bounds.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.