In a Nov. He was arrested the night between Nov. He is suspected of having administered the drugs to the teenager without their knowledge in order to impair their judgement and control their actions.
He also oversaw the pastoral care of health at the diocesan level. This latest scandal comes after the bombshell announcement earlier this week by a prominent French cardinal that he had also acted inappropriately with a teenage girl over 30 years ago and was resigning from his religious duties.
Ricard said he had been in touch with the victim and had asked her forgiveness, though he did not offer specifics. A year ago, a report conducted by an independent commission was published estimating that some , children had been sexually abused by priests or other church representatives over 70 years.
The Vatican has also been conducting several diocesan inquiries for various reasons, mostly related to management and routine governance. Last year, shortly after the report on abuse in the French Catholic Church was published, allegations were made in French magazine Le Point against the former archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit, accusing him of engaging in a consensual, intimate relationship with a woman.
Aupetit denied the allegations but offered his resignation to the pope in response to the intense public backlash the article had created. Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter: eliseannallen. For the cost of a cup of coffee at Starbucks, you can help keep the lights on at Crux. French church hit with fresh scandal after priest accused of rape By Elise Ann Allen. Nov 11, Keep Crux Independent.
