France reels from new sex abuse allegations against Emmaus charity founder Abbé Pierre

Charities set up by France’s most famous Catholic priest, Abbé Pierre, are distancing themselves from their founder following a fresh wave of sexual assault allegations against a man once best known for his fight against homelessness and poverty. Emmaus International – which has more than 400 organisations worldwide – announced Monday that it was looking into “some kind of compensation for victims” the same day that an investigation by Radio France raised questions about how long both the foundation and the Catholic Church had been covering up half a century of sexual abuse.

The late Capuchin monk, Catholic priest and campaigner for the homeless widely known as Abbé Pierre has been the literal face of charity for many people in France. For decades, the organisations that he helped to build, including the Abbé Pierre Foundation and the Emmaus movement, have put his name and face at the forefront of their calls for solidarity with those living in poverty and homelessness.

But speaking on French commercial radio on Monday, Emmaus International delegate-general Adrien Chaboche said that that image had now changed beyond recognition.

“From now on, Abbé Pierre – for everyone, and especially for the people that have been victims of violence – is the picture of a sexual predator,” he said.

It has taken 17 years for the allegations to come to light since Abbé Pierre’s death.

“Everything in these accusations is false,” he wrote. “Nothing of this kind of misery ever existed, and has not existed, anywhere.”

Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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