What Happened in France?: Listening to the Voices of Survivors
The report of the French Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), led by Jean-Marc Sauvé, is a momentous accomplishment filled with important recommendations, yet still remains controversial. Building on the November 16 event “Prière De Ne Pas Abuser (Please Do Not Abuse),” this event brings together experts from France and elsewhere in Europe to better understand this reality and the possible global implications for safeguarding in the Catholic Church and other faith communities.
This discussion will highlight the insights from two new and quite comprehensive books on sexual abuse, L’Église catholique face aux abus sexuels sur mineurs (The Catholic Church and the Sexual Abuse of Minors) (2019) by Marie-Jo Thiel and L’Eglise déchirée (The Torn Church) (2021) edited by Stéphane Joulain. Additionally, Antoine Garapon, a prolific author and judicial expert who was also a member of CIASE, will join these two authors to discuss the immediate and long-term implications of the Sauvé report. The conversation will be moderated by Senior Research Fellow Rev. Gerard J. McGlone, S.J.
This event is co-sponsored by Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; Initiative on Catholic Social Thought in Public Life; Office of Mission and Ministry; Georgetown Law Office of Mission and Ministry; and Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues.