Bishop Condemns Archbishop of Toulouse for Appointing Homosexual Rapist

Bishop Hervé Giraud of Viviers, France, criticised Archbishop Guy de Kérimel of Toulouse for appointing Abbé Dominique Spina, a convicted homosexual rapist, as chancellor of his diocese.

Monsignor de Kérimel's decision provoked an international outcry, but he continued to protect Abbé Spina.

In an interview with LaVie.fr on 22 July, Bishop Giraud said: “The Archbishop of Toulouse spoke of the ‘principle of mercy’, but I told myself that we really don't have the same notion of mercy. Who should show mercy? I don't think a bishop can show mercy without considering the victims. Admittedly, it isn't simple because we must also consider the priest's future, but there are many other ways of offering him a new start in life.”

Furthermore, Bishop Giraud questioned collegiality between bishops in this case because it can paralyse: "A diocesan bishop must be concerned for the whole people of God."

De Kérimel showed no "mercy" the priests of the Fraternity of Saint Peter which he kicked out of Grenoble, his former diocese without any reason.

Picture: Hervé Giraud, Guy de Kérimel © wikicommons CC BY-SA, #newsRsgcolfbid