A Parisian priest in the crosshairs of justice.
According to information from Le Monde confirmed to Le Parisien by the Paris prosecutor's office, the priest Luc de Bellescize, 43, is the subject of a preliminary investigation for sexual assault opened in November 2023. The Paris prosecutor's office tells us that the man of the Church “was taken into custody on Wednesday March 6, 2024” by police officers from the 2nd judicial police district (2nd DPJ).
The prosecution adds that “the police custody measure was lifted on Thursday March 7, 2024 for continuation of preliminary investigations”.
The priest is not currently being prosecuted.
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According to information from our colleagues, it was following a complaint from a young girl who had just reached the age of majority that this investigation was opened.
The events would have taken place between 2022 and the summer of 2023. It was, still according to Le Monde, at the chaplaincy of the faculty of Assas (5th arrondissement) that the young woman would have met the priest.
Would then have started a relationship described as “toxic” with “inappropriate behavior”.
He no longer has the right to confess and prepare couples for marriage
In a press release released this Friday, the diocese of Paris recalls that the ecclesiastic "remains presumed innocent" while announcing having taken "canonical precautionary measures which restrict his ministry" in order "to allow the smooth running of the French legal procedure and to the canonical procedure.
And added: “These measures were shared with his immediate ecclesial entourage, who will be able to ensure their application.”
The diocese also announces that it will not “make further comments.”
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Luc de Bellescize, who serves as vicar in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul (10th arrondissement), therefore no longer has the right to confess.
He can no longer prepare couples for marriage.
He can also no longer speak in the media.