Lestelle-Bétharram – 21.06.2026: An independent commission, appointed by the Louis-Joinet Institute, has published a report on systematic abuse at the Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Catholic school in southwestern France. The abuse, which occurred from the 1950s into the 2000s, included physical and sexual violence by both clergy and laypeople. The scandal, which came to light in 2024, attracted media and political attention as nearly 250 complaints were filed, yet only one person was charged.
The commission identified 196 known victims and 37 accused perpetrators. However, extrapolations estimated the actual number of victims to be as high as 1,500 due to low disclosure rates in earlier decades. The report highlights the institutional and systemic nature of the violence and calls for a specific compensation mechanism that also includes victims of non-sexual violence. So far, 1.4 million euros have been paid out to 48 victims.
The commission emphasized the need for comprehensive victim support, including psychological care and legal assistance, and stressed the importance of public memory and societal reflection. Although the commission asserts its independence, some victims criticized its ties to the religious order funding it and the handling of archive access.
Ahead of the announced visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lourdes in September 2026, the Bétharram victims have requested a brief but symbolic audience to promote an action plan focused on truth, reparation, and the protection of minors.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Catholic school, operational from the 1950s to the 2000s in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, was formerly known for its high academic standards and discipline. Today, however, it is marked by decay and the scars of the scandal.
The revelations about the abuse at Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram have sparked a broader discussion about institutional violence in Catholic schools in France. Similar cases have been reported in other institutions, underlining the need for strengthened measures to protect children and adolescents.
The Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram Catholic school, operational from the 1950s to the 2000s in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, was formerly known for its high academic standards and discipline. Today, however, it is marked by decay and the scars of the scandal.
The revelations about the abuse at Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram have sparked a broader discussion about institutional violence in Catholic schools in France. Similar cases have been reported in other institutions, underlining the need for strengthened measures to protect children and adolescents.