Systematic Psychological Abuse within Benedictine Sisters of Montmartre
Background and timeline
The congregation, founded in the late 19th century in connection with the national vow and devotion to the Sacred Heart, is dedicated to liturgical prayer, perpetual adoration, and the reception of pilgrims at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
In June 2021, the congregation initiated an internal review.
In 2022, former members were formally included in the process.
In February 2023, the sisters publicly acknowledged serious internal abuses, issued an apology, and requested an external investigation.
The independent report, completed after 18 months of work, was published in January 2026.
Scope of the investigation
The commission conducted 159 interviews with current sisters, former members, priests, bishops, and lay persons. All 86 sisters then belonging to the congregation were interviewed, with no refusals.
The commission concluded that the documented abuses were not isolated incidents, but reflected a systemic mode of governance that developed progressively over several decades.
Leadership and responsibility
The report identifies long-term failures in the exercise of authority, primarily under the former superior Mother Marie-Agnès (in civil life Françoise Julien). She governed the congregation from 1968 to 2004 and died in 2016.
Separately, accusations in recent years were directed at Mother Marie Vianney (Roseline de Romanet), who has since left the order and retrained as a palliative care nurse.
Nature of the abuses
The investigation documents abuse of authority and spiritual power, psychological domination, mistreatment, and lasting consequences for affected sisters. Specific mechanisms identified include:
- Control of interior life through spiritual language and misuse of obedience
- Isolation from family and external relationships
- Surveillance and denunciation, creating a climate of fear and silence
- Verbal violence and humiliating treatment
- Imposed hyperactivity, limiting rest, reflection, and discernment
- Problematic use of medication, described in some cases as prolonged “medicated submission”
The investigation emphasises that the abuses were linked to systemic governance failures spanning several decades, rather than to individual misconduct alone.
The Diocese of Paris formally acknowledged that, for many years, it failed in its duty of vigilance.
Reforms and current situation
The report recognises that significant reforms have been initiated since 2014, with further improvements intensified since 2020. Measurable changes in daily community life have been observed.
The commission issued 58 recommendations, including official public recognition of the abuses, concrete measures of reparation, review of medical and economic situations, and support for former members, including health-related assistance where appropriate.
The congregation has stated that it will implement all 58 recommendations immediately, with further evaluation planned ahead of the general chapter scheduled for October 2026.
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