A decision by the Archbishop of Toulouse, Guy de Kerimel, to promote Father Dominique Spina—a Catholic priest convicted of raping a teenage boy—has sparked widespread outrage and renewed criticism of the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of sexual abuse cases.
Spina, who was found guilty in 2006 of raping a 16-year-old boy and sentenced to five years in prison, was appointed in June as diocesan chancellor. The role gives him responsibility over church archives and administrative functions—despite canon law stating the chancellor must be “of honest reputation and above all suspicion.”
Kerimel defended his decision as an act of “mercy,” insisting that Spina had nothing to reproach in an administrative role. “Without mercy, Spina risks a social death,” the archbishop argued in a statement issued Thursday, while acknowledging the “incomprehension” and “questions” raised among Catholics.
The controversial move has drawn fierce condemnation from victim advocacy groups, Catholic media outlets, and even fellow clergy. One bishop, speaking anonymously to AFP, described the decision as “a great shame” for the Church, adding: “A priest convicted of serious sexual acts cannot hold a position of responsibility again.”
Several groups representing victims of sexual abuse in Catholic schools jointly condemned the appointment, expressing “deep indignation” and “anger.”
Catholic newspaper La Croix criticized the archbishop’s reasoning, writing that “the principle of mercy cannot be used as a hasty justification.”
Conservative site Riposte Catholique labelled the appointment “unjustifiable,” urging Vatican intervention.
Similarly, Tribune Chrétienne, known for its traditionalist stance, stated: “Compassion does not consist of rehabilitating a condemned man to a canonical position.”
The controversy comes at a time when France’s Catholic Church is already grappling with multiple sexual abuse scandals, including historic allegations against the late Abbe Pierre, a prominent defender of the poor who died in 2007. An independent inquiry published in 2021 exposed widespread sexual abuse by clergy in France, prompting the Church to establish commissions to address victim compensation and accountability.
Critics argue that Spina’s promotion undermines the Church’s pledges to prioritize victims and rebuild trust. They warn that decisions like this risk deepening the crisis of confidence already facing the Catholic Church worldwide.
