Crisis in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon: and now, an investigation for sexual assault

Clouds are gathering over the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, shaken by the Vatican’s decision to suspend the ordinations of priests in the Var.

In its edition of this Tuesday and on its website this Monday eveningthe newspaper The cross publishes an investigation into the conditions under which this sanction was taken by the Holy See.

If the reception policy of the diocese, open to many communities, some of which are controversial, and the training of seminarians are indeed in the sights of the Vatican, our colleagues also reveal that a complaint against a Var priest, responsible for a “fraternity “, was filed for “sexual assault on a minor”.

The Toulon public prosecutor’s office, quoted by The crossconfirmed that a preliminary investigation is open after several reports.

Suspicions of abuse

To those files that “continue to arrive at the Holy See”, Add to this irregularities (vis-à-vis the Vatican rules) but also suspicions of excesses, pointed out by the Catholic daily which had access to the conclusions of a canonical investigation (internal to the Church).

Revelations that echo the book-investigation Le Nouveau Péril sectaire (Robert Laffont editions) published in October 2021. Journalists Timothée de Rauglaudre and Jean-Loup Adénor have examined in particular the mode of operation of certain communities, with decried practices, hosted in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon.

The bishopric could not be reached on Monday evening. Contacted in recent days about the suspension of ordinations of priests in the Var, the Vatican services did not respond.

Similarly, the diocese of Marseille, whose archbishop conducted an investigation in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, “at the request of Rome”did not respond either.

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