The diocese of Alsace in turmoil.
The Archbishop of Strasbourg, Mgr Luc Ravel, dismissed Father Hubert Schmitt from the episcopal council and withdrew his office of vicar, according to information revealed on Tuesday April 18 by Latest news from Alsace (DNA) and confirmed by
the
diocese at
Figaro
.
The decision, which the archbishop has not publicly justified, dates back to April 5, the day after a previous dismissal that was highly criticized within the same council.
In the middle of Holy Week, Mgr Luc Ravel had indeed announced his dismissal to Auxiliary Bishop Christian Kratz by… a letter slipped under his door.
The same evening, the faithful demonstrated in front of Strasbourg Cathedral to demand his departure, waving signs “Ravel resignation” at the entrance to the Chrism Mass.
“
Perhaps it was not the right method
” to announce a sidelining, admitted the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Strasbourg Bernard Xibaut on BFM Alsace.
Brutal methods?
The dismissal of Christian Kratz, which has not been commented on publicly either, could be linked, according to
DNA
, to his handling of the case of Emmanuel Walch, a former chaplain who committed suicide at the start of the year while he was accused of rape by a former student.
More than the substance, it is above all the form that the opponents of the archbishop denounce, criticized for his “
brutal
” methods.
A file that Pope Francis is following closely.
Last summer, the sovereign pontiff entrusted the bishop of Pontoise, Mgr Stanislas Lalanne, with a general inspection of the diocese of Alsace.
Since this apostolic visit, no information has been communicated as to the future of Bishop Luc Ravel.