Four priests of the Catholic diocese of Lyon
in eastern France have been relieved of
their duties for sexual abuse, a diocesan
source said Thursday
A panel of experts recommended the
measure, the source added, declining to
say whether the clerics had already been
named since the diocese's predator priest
scandal came to light in March, rocking
France's Catholic Church.
French judicial authorities are aware of all
four dossiers, the source said.
The dismissals come three weeks after
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop
of Lyon, was questioned by police over
allegations that he covered up the sexual
abuse of boy scouts.
One of France's most powerful Catholic
leaders, Barbarin has been accused of
failing to remove a priest, Bernard Preynat,
from his diocese when he became aware
the man had sexually abused young boys
25 years ago.
Preynat was relieved of his duties last year.
Pope Francis issued a decree early in June
that senior Catholic officials guilty of
negligence in child abuse cases can now
be dismissed from office.
The nine-member expert panel -- which
included a psychiatrist, a psychoanalyst, a
doctor and Church legal expert -- also
recommended that the diocese keep an
eye on other priests who have already
been investigated.
Several other members of the Lyon diocese
have already been questioned by
investigators and several police raids have
been carried out at the archbishop's office.
Barbarin had said in April that he would
reveal the panel's conclusions by the end
of June.
He said the members were tasked with
"studying and analysing the cases of
certain priests whose situation is
problematic in terms of their pastoral
activity, civil or Church law in the affective
and sexual domain."
The panel, which also includes a lay
woman and man, both of whom are
parents, has met seven times.
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