diocese

The gendarmerie investigation and the canonical investigation targeting the head of the Missionary Fraternity Marie Mère des Apotres, Father Ludovic-Marie Margot, have been dismissed, said a representative of the Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon on 26 FEBRUARY.

The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause. In a video broadcast on Sunday February 26 by the parish of Solliès-Pont in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, Father Thierry de Marsac, ecclesiastical assistant sent by the bishop, officially rehabilitates Father Ludovic Marie Margot. A long-awaited event in the assembly gathered at the parish for Sunday Mass, after a canonical investigation opened on March 8, 2022 and closed on June 16, 2022.

Absence of crime of the canonical and civil order

The priest in question had been the subject of complaints “in the context of its activities at the Missionary Fraternity of Mary Mother of the Apostles [dont il était le responsable] and with the parishes of Solliès-Pont and Solliès-Toucas », says Father Thierry de Marsac in the preamble. It was not a matter of morals or financial matters but “of governance”, according to information confirmed to Famille Chrétienne.

However, the findings of the investigation “underline the absence of a canonical offense and specify that there is no matter for a canonical penal trial. Father Margot did not commit any breach requiring a canonical penal trial, even if elements were noticed requiring particular pastoral attention”, indicates the ecclesiastical assistant. Before adding bluntly: “This investigation found words of defamation which were expressed with regard to Father Margot and with regard to the missionary fraternity Marie Mère des Apotres, and which undermined the presumption of innocence. »

Governance errors and diocesan support

The police investigation leads to the same conclusions. “On October 31, 2022, the public prosecutor of Toulon issued a notice of classification to the author, considering that the examination of this procedure did not justify criminal prosecution. There is therefore no offense found by the gendarmerie investigation.insists the father of Marsac.

For his part, Father Margot has “acknowledged errors in its governance and agreed to make amends”, still informs the father of Marsac. Even if the two investigations are classified, the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon“undertakes to continue supporting Father Margot, the parishes of Solliès-Pont, Solliès-Toucas and the Fraternity”, concludes the assistant sent by the bishop. On behalf of the diocese, he hopes that “These announcements will be a ferment of peace and communion. »

Camille Lecuit