Pedocriminality: the Church examines possible funding to compensate victims

How to supplement the compensation fund for victims of pedocriminality?

Since the episcopate accepted to resort to the goods of the Church, the dioceses are examining different avenues of funding, short and long term.

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The Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) excludes using the donations of the faithful to supplement this fund known as Selam (Relief and fight against abuse of minors).

It announced in November that it would finance it instead by divesting itself of real estate and movable property.

And start by digging into the security reserves of the dioceses.

The fund must be endowed with 20 million euros initially, at the beginning of 2022. And in each diocese, the bursars are examining sources of funding.

Church property

Real estate is first of all "churches built after 1905, parish halls, patronage halls", recalls Ambroise Laurent, deputy secretary general in charge of finance at the CEF. Churches and ancillary buildings built before the 1905 law on the separation of churches and state belong to the municipalities and cathedrals to the state.

This heritage is used but

he says.

The dioceses also derive income from investment properties (houses, apartments, mansions, often received as bequests), housed in a civil society (SCI) or a real estate association.

In addition, those who have financial heritage invest it in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.

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“In total, on the income from real estate - apart from churches and annexes - and movable property, we build up security reserves.

It is, according to the dioceses, a few months to one or two years of operation ”

, according to Ambroise Laurent.

It is first of all from these reserves that the episcopate intends to draw, he underlines.

First payment

This is confirmed by the diocese of Caen-Bayeux - two-thirds rural - which indicates that it will supplement the fund to the tune of "70,000 euros", "from its own reserves".

, also affirms the treasurer of the diocese of Paris, Jean Chausse to AFP. In this diocese, which accounts for around 10% of the financial resources of the Church of France, the first contribution "

".

They will be deducted from the approximately 9 MEUR in rental income received each year - which is usually used to subsidize charities or to maintain buildings used.

The diocese of Paris indeed claims to have, among other 72 SCIs, proprietary associations, or organizations for the management of Catholic education (Ogec).

He acquired mainly thanks to bequests, real estate - such as mansions in beautiful neighborhoods - valued, in a recent survey by France Inter, in total at at least 700 million euros, a "range" confirmed by Mr. . Shoe.

Sell ​​goods?

In the longer term, if the number of claims for compensation from victims turns out to be high, the transfer of real estate will be considered.

The Diocese of Créteil announced that the bishop's residence - a pavilion bought ten years ago - would be put up for sale and "more modest accommodation" sought.

Enough to "quickly make a first payment," he said.

The diocese of Caen confides that it is "

.

Before selling real estate, "we can sell works of art in the sacristies" or imagine "financial arrangements", details Jean Chausse, in the diocese of Paris.

"If we have to sell goods, we will"

In the capital, three quarters of the housing stock does not generate income, being used for the missions of the diocese or solidarity - 28 churches, 50,000 m2 of parsonages, 90,000 m2 of Catholic schools. It is therefore not a question of “selling off” this part of the heritage. But “

says Jean Chausse.

"If the Church wanted to send a very strong message, the easiest way would be to sell the Archbishop's mansion, in the wealthy 7th arrondissement, a mansion worth"

40 M euros ", which comes from a bequest of more than 100 years from a wealthy donor, he recalls.

»We do not forbid anything«.

According to him, the former archbishop Michel Aupetit, who recently resigned, "had nothing against".

And a transfer of the CEF headquarters on avenue de Breteuil in Paris?

" says Hugues de Woillemont, spokesperson for the CEF.

But in the medium term