Relatives of alleged victims, who claim the extradition of the 92 -year -old priest, went to his community on Wednesday, on the Fourvière hill, where he agreed to meet them. The Congregation of the Oblates of Marie-Immaculée announced that it has initiated a canonical procedure of referral against him.
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In France since Monday September 12 and in Lyon Wednesday 14, a delegation of Inuit of Canada tracks down a Franco-Canadian priest, suspected of sexual abuse on children while he was on a mission for the congregation of the Oblates of Marie-Immaculate, in the Far North Canadian, from 1960 to 1993. Parents of victims and representatives of the Inuit people, the nine members of the delegation claim the rapid return of Father Joannes Rivoire, 92, at the scene of his alleged assaults, so that it is judged. The old man has been on the run for almost thirty years, sheltered in a retirement home located on the Croix-Rousse hill, in Lyon, where Le Monde had found it and questioned in December 2021.
After claiming his extradition from the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday in Paris, the Inuit delegation saw the legal obstacles stand. The Chancellery recalled that France does not extract its nationals, while leaving the door to legal aid with Canada open. “This man is presumed innocent, he disputes everything. I have no file. I hear rumors, accusations in the media, but no procedure has reached me. The process is a bit rider,” warns Thierry Dumoulin, the Lyon lawyer of the priest.
“Versatile temperament”
Inuit representatives imagined a simpler outcome on their trip. They bought a plane ticket, saying that they are ready to embark the priest with them when they return on Friday, September 16. Provided to convince the interested party. For its part, the Congregation of the Oblates of Marie-Immaculée claims to do everything to encourage the priest to surrender. “We are determined to continue our efforts to convince Joannes Rivoire to go to Canadian justice. This approach of justice is essential, both for the alleged victims and for the people of the Inuit, but also for the Oblates missionaries and for the Church Catholic “, says Vincent Gruber, head of the congregation, who has 3,700 missionaries in the world, including 87 in France.
To accentuate the pressure on Joannes Rivoire, the provincial of the Congregation announced, Wednesday, September 14, having initiated against him a canonical procedure for dismissal. Reason: “Father Rivoire disobeyed himself to presenting himself to justice.” “I can seek to convince him, get angry, but I cannot force him, I cannot force him physically. He To a versatile temperament. We will call Rome to find out who can convince him, “insists Vincent Gruber.
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