At a time when society and the Church are attempting to shed light on sexual abuses and assaults, notably towards minors and fragile persons, my brothers and I have judged it necessary to speak out as well. For decades now at Taizé we have been welcoming, week after week, thousands of young and not-so-young people from Europe and from the whole world.

Aware of our responsibility and the trust that is shown to us by these young people, their families and their group-leaders, we have always tried to ensure that this welcome takes place in the best conditions possible, with respect for the convictions of each person and deeply attentive to the safety and integrity of all.

Among the participants in the meetings, however, whether between young people or between young people and adults, violations of integrity have taken place. When we are informed of this, we make a point of listening to those violated, and also of informing the competent authorities, both judicial and ecclesial.

Among other measures, since 2010 pages of our website (in November 2023, these were extensively revised) have been dedicated to the protection of individuals and an email address set up to facilitate the reporting of any offences. At Taizé itself, a brother and other persons from outside the community are responsible for listening to any person aware of an assault that is sexual in nature or any other form of violence, particularly concerning a minor. This is included in the information given to all the participants upon their arrival.

If I am speaking out today, this is because I have become aware with deep sadness of cases involving our brothers and, even if these cases are old, we have felt, in community, that we had to speak about them. There were five cases of sexual assault upon minors, in the years from the 1950s to the 1980s, by three different brothers, two of whom have been deceased for over fifteen years. [1]

When I was informed of these accusations, my first concern was to listen, with other brothers, to the survivors*, in an absolute respect for their words, to hear their suffering and to remain alongside them to the best of our ability.

In recent years, in the society and in the Church, an understanding of the gravity of every violation of a person’s integrity has fortunately deepened. This finds an echo in the evolution of French law, which requires that every case be reported, independently of the date on which the acts were committed.

To continue our work of establishing the truth, and after having spoken beforehand with the survivors, I have just informed the public prosecutor of these five situations.

We recognize that these assaults committed in the past by brothers are also part of our history. For us, this reporting is part of an attempt to ascertain the truth that had already begun by listening to the survivors and, still today, our first thoughts go out to them; in hearing what they experienced and suffered, we feel shame and deep sorrow. It is possible that this statement may encourage other possible survivors to make themselves known. We will listen to them and will remain alongside them in the steps that they choose to take.

We are convinced that it is only by bringing to light these acts that, with the assistance of persons outside the community, we will help to protect effectively all those who show us their trust by coming to Taizé. If I am speaking today, it is because we owe this to the survivors, to those close to them, and to all those who seek at Taizé a space of trust, safety and truth.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Brother Alois

*Following current English usage, we have translated "personnes victimes" by "survivors".

Every act of aggression, old or more recent, committed against a minor or an adult, whether by a brother abusing his moral ascendancy or by any other person, can be reported to the address [email protected], to a survivors’ association or to national hotlines given on the Taizé website​.

Note updated | August 2024

Through reports published in the press, the Taizé Community has learned that a former brother has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence for possessing images of child pornography. According to the same source of information, this is the brother who was accused of rape and sexual assault in October 2019 and who has not been a member of the Community since spring 2020 (see the notes updated in October 2019 and June 2020). Brother Matthew, prior of Taizé, reacts: “We were very surprised when we learned of this conviction as we were not aware of this part of the judicial investigation. On this occasion, I can only reiterate the commitment we have made for Taizé to be a safe place for everyone, both within the community and in the international youth meetings. We owe it to the victims who have had the courage to speak out about what they have suffered; we also owe it to all those for whom Taizé is an important place in their lives and in their faith.”

Note updated | May 2023

The case mentioned in the "Safeguarding at Taizé Report", published in December 2022 and available online, has recently reached a conclusion. Under the aegis of the Commission for Recognition and Reparation, a memorandum of understanding between Brother Alois, the brother concerned and the injured party has been signed. The Taizé Community commits itself for the coming period to ensuring that the brother in question will continue with the psychological treatment already begun, and that his pastoral contacts linked to the meetings, in Taizé or elsewhere, will be suspended.

The work of ascertaining the truth must continue in the Church and in Taizé

Taizé, 5 December, 2022 My brothers and I are very aware of the suffering of people who are victims of spiritual abuse and sexual assault in the Church. The lack of a clear and swift response in dealing with these situations has often compounded the pain caused by these offences and crimes. In Taizé too, as we explained in 2019, brothers in our community have committed sexual assaults. As I listen to the victims, I become more and more aware of the depth of the wounds. What has happened is intolerable and appalling to us and it keeps us from any form of idealizing our community.

Note updated | November 2022

Following the creation in France of an independent commission, "Recognition and Reparation", for people who are victims of members of religious communities in the Church, Taizé’s prior, Brother Alois, met in January with its president, the magistrate Antoine Garapon. He agreed to deal with allegations involving brothers of the community and appointed two members of the commission for this purpose. Anyone wishing to speak to them can do so directly via [email protected] or through the internet site.

Note updated | June 2020

Last October, a brother was remanded in custody (see the above note for October 2019​). He was released, under judicial supervision, at the beginning of May this year. The investigation is continuing, pending the judicial decision that will be made. Irrespective of the outcome of the judicial proceedings, and by mutual agreement with him, it has been decided to terminate his membership of the community.

Note updated | March 2020

Last June, we reported several allegations of sexual assault, two of which involved a brother who is still alive. Since that initial statement, other testimonies involving this same brother have reached the community, also relating sexual assaults on minors, in the form of inappropriate touching. These testimonies have been submitted to the authorities in charge of the investigation. It is for the judicial authorities alone to qualify the facts in law and to assess the legal consequences in view of the lapse of time since their alleged perpetration. However, there is no reason to doubt the testimony of the victims-survivors, whose suffering remains present after so many years. In view of the seriousness of the acts of which this brother is accused, and their incompatibility with the commitments undertaken by the brothers, Brother Alois has informed him that it was better for him to leave the community. He will live elsewhere and, because of his age, a brother will live with him and others will help to accompany him during this period of his life.

Note updated | October 2019

Since publishing his letter of June 4th, “Ascertaining the Truth”, Brother Alois recently received the testimony of a woman describing a strong dominance exerted on her by a brother, accusing him of manipulation and spiritual, psychological and sexual harassment lasting several years up until this summer. According to her account, this dominance began in 2003, when she took part in the international meetings in Taizé as a young adult. Brother Alois immediately notified the relevant authorities and the police received the testimony of the victim. The brother in question has been charged with "rape and sexual assault" and remanded in custody. It is now up to the courts to establish the facts and to determine their legal status.

Note updated | July 2019

Following the statement by Brother Alois on June 4th, several people have written to the address [email protected], leading Brother Alois to inform the public prosecutor of two new accusations of sexual assault upon minors which took place in the 1960s and 1970s, by a brother who has been dead for over twenty years and another brother who left the community more than forty years ago. In addition, further testimonies have been received implicating a brother who died over fifteen years ago, who was mentioned in the original statement, describing sexual assault in the form of inappropriate touching of young people over the age of majority.