Austim Speaks!

When it turns out that the person we trust the most...

The words of those who have testified bring to light a troubling part of L'Arche history, a part of history involving sexual predation and abuse, but it also gives us an opportunity to move forward better equipped to face the challenges of our time. 






The news is about Jean Vanier. 

Jean Vanier was the person who started L’Arche. He did many good things and we are grateful for that. 

Last year he died.

We have now learnt some things we did not know about him.

Six women told us that Jean Vanier has hurt them. These women said that when they were meeting Jean Vanier alone, to talk about their spiritual life, he touched them in a sexual way. He abused them.

They did not want this. They did not like this. It upset them.

L’Arche says very strongly that what Jean Vanier did was wrong. Our community says that what Jean Vanier did was wrong. We say that what Jean Vanier did was wrong.

L’Arche International is working to make sure everyone in l’Arche is safe. Our community is working to make sure everyone here is safe. We are working to make sure that nobody will sexually abuse anyone. We all need to be safe. Safe and respected.

This news shocks us.

HERE