Despite serious allegations of sexual abuse made against late French priest Abbé Pierre, no criminal investigation will be launched since the statute of limitations has elapsed, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday.
Last month, the French Catholic Church took the unprecedented step of requesting the judiciary to launch an investigation. The request included looking into individuals who might have known about the abuse but remained silent.
The Paris prosecutor’s office now says no investigation can be initiated against the priest himself, who died in 2007. Any unreported offences have since exceeded the statute of limitations, making further investigations impossible, it says.
In recent months, several serious accusations have surfaced against Abbé Pierre, who was long seen as a champion of the underprivileged.
The Church has acknowledged instances of assault against women, children, and other vulnerable individuals between the 1950s and 2006.
More than 50 potential victims have been identified.
