Jean Vanier accused of abusive sexual relationships with six women
Investigation reports 'sincere and consistent testimony' covering the period 1970-2005 from adults, none of whom had disabilities
Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities that provide group homes and spiritual support for people with intellectual disabilities, used his status to have "manipulative" sexual relationships with women, according to an internal investigation commissioned by the organization.
The investigation reports "sincere and consistent testimony covering the period 1970-2005" from six adults, none of whom had disabilities.
These women report Vanier initiated sexual relations with them, the report says. Vanier, who died in 2019, asked the women to keep their relations secret.
The report says the women reported similar facts, although they did not know each other or about their abuse.
L'Arche International promised "a thorough and independent investigation" in order "to better understand our history, to improve our work in preventing abuse and thus to improve our own current policies and practices."
The organization wanted to shed light on the environment surrounding Father Thomas Philippe, Vanier's spiritual director, who had sexually abused adult women who were not disabled.
The organization learned about it in 2015, 22 years after the priest's death.
In a church trial in the 1950s, the priest was banned from exercising any public or private ministry.
The alleged acts with Vanier took place in Trosly-Breuil, France, where L'Arche was founded in 1964 and where Father Philippe and Vanier lived until their deaths.
All the testimonies mention the same procedure: The women received an invitation to go to Vanier's room, under the pretext of receiving spiritual direction.
The investigation reveals the depth of the relationship between Vanier and Father Philippe and says Vanier lied when he said he was unaware of the canonical sanctions against his mentor.
"When we read the investigation report, we were devastated," said Louis Pilotte, L'Arche Canada national director. "For most L'Arche leaders, it is a shock. For all of us, it's a situation we couldn't have imagined."
"There is no testimony, neither in this investigation, nor in the one concerning Father Philippe, that refers to relationships with people in a situation of disability," Pilotte emphasized.
"The impact of this news will be devastating," Pilotte added. "The shock will be felt far beyond L'Arche and the Catholic community. Jean was a figure recognized everywhere, in all religions."