French archbishop rescinds sex-abuser appointment

The Archbishop of Toulouse has appointed a new chancellor after widespread opposition to his earlier choice of a priest convicted of sexually assaulting a minor. But while Archbishop Guy de Kerimel apologized to victims of sexual abuse for causing them harm, he also defended his initial appointment, insisting it was a “sign of hope for abusers.” In other words, he was hoping to rehabilitate the abuser, but in order “not to provoke division among bishops, and not to remain at a standoff between those ‘for’ and ‘against,’” he said, “I decided to reverse my decision.” He added that some interpreted the earlier appointment as a snub of those who have been abused. “I ask the victims’ forgiveness. This was obviously not my intention.”