Former Students Denounce Historical Abuses in French Lasallian Catholic Schools

A collective of former students from Lasallian Catholic schools in France has publicly denounced historical physical and sexual abuses that occurred between 1955 and 1985. These abuses, including rape, physical violence, and humiliation, were perpetrated by members of the "Brothers of the Christian Schools," the congregation founded by Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, which runs about 150 private institutions in France.

The abuses came to light through 72 reports received by a listening cell the congregation established in 2014 to support victims. According to lawyer Matthias Pujos, the congregation has compensated 70 victims with a total payout of €2,434,882, following guidelines set by the Church's Commission for Recognition and Reparations. The victims are primarily aged between 50 and 70 years.

Since 2022, the congregation has also filed three legal complaints with prosecutors in Besançon, Évry-Courcouronnes, and Reims concerning living suspects of these crimes. The collective has accused the congregation of systemic violence and is demanding formal recognition of this responsibility. They are calling for the creation of a €100 million reparations fund to provide broader restitution to victims. Additionally, the group is launching a public appeal for more survivors to come forward and share their testimonies.

The schools implicated span several French cities, including Quimper, Rouen, and Paris. Philippe Auzenet, a member of the collective, shared his traumatic experiences of severe abuse, highlighting the deep scars still carried by victims. This collective effort aims both to seek justice and to acknowledge the broader systemic nature of abuses within the Lasallian educational network.

This development reflects ongoing efforts across France to confront historical abuses within religious educational institutions and provide redress to survivors.