Sexual violence committed by Abbé Pierre: Signing of an agreement between EHESS and Emmaus International

Sexual violence committed by Abbé Pierre: Signing of an agreement between EHESS and Emmaus International

The Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and Emmaus International have signed an agreement formalising the launch of a research initiative by the Study Commission on the Abuses Committed by Abbé Pierre (CEVAP).

This independent commission will have a two-year mandate to determine the scale of the sexual violence committed by Abbé Pierre since 1950 and to analyse exactly how it was possible that almost 70 years went by before Abbé Pierre was held publicly accountable for his acts of sexual violence.

>>> Appendix of the agreement, which details the mission of the CEVAP <<<

The CEVAP will begin by compiling a bibliography of existing works and conducting a press review of articles from the 1950s onwards. A collection of testimonies already shared, including those collected by Groupe Egaé in 2024, will also be created, with the assent of the victims. In-depth research will be carried out in the archives of the Emmaus Movement and the Church, as well as in North America, where serious misconduct was reported.

Establishing this commission demonstrates the Emmaus Movement’s unfailing commitment to truth, transparency and justice.

The research team

From a disciplinary perspective, the makeup of the research team reflects the variety of investigative methods and analytical approaches that will be used:

  • Céline Béraud, sociologist, director of studies at EHESS, member of the Centre for Social Sciences of Religion (CéSor), president of the Commission.
  • Denis Pelletier, historian, director of studies at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), member of the Group of Sociology of Religions and Secularism (GSRL).
  • Charles Mercier, historian, professor at the University of Bordeaux, member of the Laboratoire Cultures, Education, Sociétés (LACES).
  • Martin Meunier, sociologist, full professor at the University of Ottawa (in charge of the research in North America).
  • A junior researcher will also join the team.
  • The team will be assisted by a research engineer.

The research team will be supported by a scientific committee:

  • Axelle Brodiez-Dolino, historian, director of research at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), member of the Centre d’histoire sociale des mondes contemporains (CHS).
  • Karlijn Demasure, theologian, professor emerita at Saint Paul University in Ottawa.
  • Philippe Portier, political scientist, director of studies at the EPHE, member of the GSRL.
  • Marie-Jo Thiel, medical doctor and theologian, professor emerita of ethics and moral theology at the University of Strasbourg.

The scientific committee will meet at least four times in the course of its work. A representative of Emmaus International will attend the meetings.