Second Man Indicted for Rape in Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Abuse Case

A second man has been indicted for rape in the ongoing investigation into sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram institution in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, officials announced on February 5, 2026. The new charge relates to a complaint filed by a former student, born in 1981, describing a single rape incident that took place between 1993 and 1996 while they were enrolled at the school from sixth grade. The accused, a man born in 1963 and linked to the church, was taken into custody on February 3 and placed under judicial control. This is his first involvement in the case, and he denies the allegations. Prosecutor Rodolphe Jarry described the charge specifically as "rape by a person in authority."

This indictment follows that of a layperson born in 1965 who had remained employed at the institution through 2024 and was charged earlier in the investigation. The school, which has been renamed "Le Beau Rameau," spans several campuses with middle, primary, high, and vocational schools, as well as boarding facilities. Reports of physical and sexual violence at Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram date back decades, but it was only from fall 2023 that former students began publicly sharing testimonies of abuse. The case has highlighted challenges victims face due to statutes of limitations, which can extend up to 30 years post majority of the victims. The wave of revealed abuses has prompted the Catholic education authorities to plan closure of the historic Bétharram site.

The latest indictment thus represents a significant development in the lengthy investigation into alleged institutional abuses at this longstanding educational and religious site. The accused cleric had not been previously questioned in the case, marking a new phase in the inquiry that continues to uncover long-hidden abuses.