The Local France

At least 3,000 paedophiles active in French church since 1950: report

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 11:16:20 +0200

Thousands of paedophiles have operated inside the French Catholic Church since 1950, the head of an independent commission investigating the scandal told AFP, days ahead of the release of its report.

French cardinal to face trial over 'cover up' of priest's sex abuse

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:47:10 +0200

A French Cardinal will go on trial in April accused of covering up the sexual abuse of children by a paedophile priest in his Lyon diocese over 25 years ago, a court ruled Tuesday.

French police grill cardinal in sex abuse cover-up claim

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 09:56:35 +0200

One of France's most powerful Catholic leaders, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, has been questioned by police over allegations he covered up the sexual abuse of Scouts.

Growing sex abuse scandal rocks French Catholic Church

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:17:33 +0100

A French cardinal at the centre of a paedophile scandal came under renewed pressure on Tuesday when another witness accused him of covering up sex abuse and the French prime minister told him to take responsibility for his actions.

Vatican denies Pope made call to gay Catholic

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 11:54:00 +0200

The Vatican firmly denied reports in France on Friday that Pope Francis had telephoned a young gay French Catholic to reassure him. Christophe Trutino had claimed in a newspaper interview the Pontiff had told him “Your homosexuality. It doesn't matter" in a personal call.

France salutes election of Pope Francis

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:24:00 +0100

Political leaders in France warmly acknowledged the election of Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new head of the Catholic Church. Some on the left in France, however, criticized the Vatican conclave's choice of pontiff.

Hollande under fire after making Pope joke

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:04:00 +0100

French President Francois Hollande came under fire on Tuesday after cracking a joke about Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign because of his failing health.

Pope Benedict merits 'respect', Hollande says

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:21:00 +0100

French President Francois Hollande Monday hailed Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step down due to old age was "eminently respectable".

Catholics mark festival with anti-gay prayer

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:39:00 +0200

French Catholics marked the Assumption holiday on Wednesday with prayers focused on the family and children that were designed to underline the Church's opposition to gay marriage.

Sex shop near school sparks row with church

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:23:00 +0100

An argument sparked by the Catholic church over the location of a shop selling sex toys will move to a Paris courtroom today where lawyers will argue over whether its products qualify as pornographic.

Loved-up priest dropped by church

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:29:56 +0200

A priest in a parish on the western coast of the country has been removed from his duties by the Catholic church for living with a woman for 11 years.