Toulouse: Controversy surrounding the promotion of priest Dominique Spina, convicted of rape, we explain

Priest Dominique Spina was forced to refuse a promotion to the rank of chancellor of the diocese of Toulouse because of his 2006 rape conviction.

This priest was forced to refuse his promotion to chancellor of his diocese of Toulouse at the archbishop's request. Father Dominique Spina had been appointed to this position in early June, but after much protest and outrage, the Church backed down. The man of faith was convicted on appeal in 2006 for the rape of a high school student in 1993 while he was a priest in the Diocese of Bayonne. He served a five-year prison sentence.

The Archbishop of Toulouse, Monsignor Guy de Kérimel, justified the priest's initial appointment to the rank of chancellor by explaining that he had "taken the side of mercy." As chancellor, a primarily administrative position, he would have been responsible for the diocesan establishment and the preservation of the archbishop's official documents. Dominique Spina has already been employed in the archives for five years. He would also have been responsible for providing assistance and advice on the administration of the sacraments to priests and parishes.

"He no longer exercises any pastoral responsibility, other than that of celebrating the Eucharist, alone or exceptionally for the faithful. Considering that we have nothing to reproach this priest for over the past thirty years for acts likely to be the subject of legal, canonical or civil proceedings, I have therefore chosen to appoint him to this administrative function," Mgr de Kérimel also explained.

"A snub to victims of sexual abuse"

The archbishop was ultimately forced to change his tune in light of the criticism. The Church has often been criticized for protecting priests accused and/or guilty of sexual abuse. Even the French bishops spoke out against Dominique Spina's appointment, believing it could "reopen wounds" and "disconcert" the faithful. Pope Leo XIV also made the fight against sexual violence a priority of his term.

"A rapist priest who has served the sentence imposed by the courts has the right to be reintegrated into society, of course. But that he is reintegrated into a key, prestigious position with a strong symbolic charge, that of chancellor, within one of the largest dioceses in France, is shocking," summarizes journalist Jérôme Cordelier in an article for Le Point .

"My decision was interpreted by many people as a snub to the victims of sexual abuse, and I ask the victims' forgiveness," Mgr de Kérimel said in a statement. At his request, Dominique Spina has thus "resigned the office of chancellor with a genuine openness of heart."

The archbishop nevertheless issued a statement inviting a debate on redemption and "restorative justice." "The archbishop puts the victims and the rapist priest on the same level," Le Point analyzes, emphasizing "the very trying social death" of the perpetrators of abuse and regretting "not having been able to find the rightful place to which [Dominique Spina] is entitled." This fuels the controversy despite the cancellation of the priest's promotion.