French archbishop appoints chancellor convicted of abuse

(OSV News) -- French Archbishop Guy de Kerimel of Toulouse defended his appointment of a priest convicted of sexually abusing a minor as diocesan chancellor, saying that he had "chosen the path of mercy."

The June 2 appointment of Father Dominique Spina gained widespread attention in the country after the French daily, La Dépêche du Midi, noted the priest's 1993 conviction for sexually abusing a 16-year-old high school student, for which he was given a five-year prison sentence.

"It is true that Father Spina served a five-year prison sentence, including one suspended year, for very serious acts that took place nearly 30 years ago," Archbishop de Kerimel said in a statement to Agence-France Presse, which was published July 7 by the French newspaper Le Monde.

Archbishop de Kerimel added that Father Spina "no longer exercises a pastoral role," with the exception of "celebrating the Eucharist, alone or exceptionally, for the faithful."

"Considering that we have nothing to reproach this priest for in the last 30 years for acts liable to be subject to judicial, canonical, or civil proceedings, I have therefore chosen to appoint him to this administrative position," the archbishop said.

While the role of a chancellor is an administrative duty tasked with the day-to-day functioning of a diocese, the archbishop's appointment of Father Spina raised questions regarding the suitability of a chancellor convicted of abuse.

According to the Code of Canon Law, a diocesan chancellor as well as notaries "must be of unimpaired reputation and above all suspicion."

The Tribune Chrétienne, a French Catholic media outlet, published an editorial July 4 which noted that Father Spina's conviction was upheld on appeal in 2006, and that the priest claimed that he had a "consensual relationship" with the minor.

The outlet also stated that after he was released from prison, Father Spina was welcomed to the Archdiocese of Toulouse as a parish priest but was forced to resign in 2016 when news outlets reported on his conviction.

"Several members of the faithful have expressed their incomprehension, some denouncing a return to practices of silence and internal management contrary to the principles of transparency now required," the editorial read.

The controversial appointment came as the church grappled with another high-profile abuse case, that of the late Abbé Pierre, the famed priest known as a staunch advocate of the poor, who was accused of sexual harassment and assault over several decades.

An independent report published July 9 stated that 12 new accusations of assault against the priest, who died in 2007, brought the number of accusers up to 45. Seven of the new accusations were allegedly committed against minors.

Archbishop de Kerimel's decision also comes at a time when the Catholic Church in France has attempted to address the sexual abuse crisis and promote safeguarding following the 2021 publication of the report of the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse, commonly known by the French acronym CIASE.

On March 31 and April 1, the country's bishops met with over 300 abuse victims and experts in Lourdes to discuss widespread reforms and safeguarding efforts.