A late French priest renowned for his work with the poor has been accused of sexually assaulting several women, including one underage victim, according to the charities Emmaus and Fondation Abbe Pierre.
Henri Groues, known as “Abbe Pierre,” passed away in 2007 at the age of 94. Emmaus and Fondation Abbe Pierre released a joint statement expressing their support for the victims who came forward. “We believe them,” they said, acknowledging the courage of those who testified.
The allegations are part of an independent report commissioned by the charities after an initial claim surfaced that Groues had assaulted a woman. The report revealed testimonies from seven women who reported incidents of sexual assault or harassment by Groues between 1970 and 2005.
One of the women was underage at the time of the alleged assault. Despite these serious accusations, no criminal complaints have been filed so far, according to a source at Emmaus.
France’s Catholic Church expressed “deep compassion and shame that such acts could be committed by a priest” in a statement posted on social media.
Seventeen years after his death, Groues remains a prominent figure in France. His image is still seen in charity shops and metro stations, urging citizens to remember the poor.
At the age of 18, Groues gave away his inheritance to join the Capuchin monks. He later became active in the Resistance against Nazi occupation and served as a member of parliament after World War II. In 1949, he founded the Emmaus community, which promotes self-help for marginalized individuals and has since expanded to numerous countries. He also supported the “Restos du Coeur” soup kitchens and criticized city governments for neglecting the homeless.
