Ascertaining the truth

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.