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SOJOMAIL: A weekly ezine of spirituality, politics and culture
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Reckoning With the Revelations About Jean Vanier
Jim Wallis

On Saturday, L'Arche International -- a network of more than 154 communities in 38 countries where people with intellectual disabilities and those without intellectual disabilities live together in community to "work together to build a more human society" -- announced the results of an investigation it commissioned last year into L'Arche founder Jean Vanier, who died in 2019. The investigation revealed that that Vanier "has been accused of manipulative sexual relationships and emotional abuse between 1970 and 2005, usually within a relational context where he exercised significant power and a psychological hold over the alleged victims," as Tina Bovermann, executive director of L'Arche USA put it in a letter describing the investigation and its findings. These relationships were "described as emotionally abusive and characterized by significant imbalances of power," according to the report, and occurred in the context of spiritual direction. In addition, the report establishes that Jean Vanier knew of the emotional and sexual abuse perpetrated by his mentor, Father Thomas Philippe, and may have enabled further abuse by his silence, continued relationship with Phillipe, and access to a L'Arche community he provided Phillipe for decades.

The reaction to this news has been widespread in many of our circles.

"A devastating and lifelong tragedy for those who were abused. A time of heartbreak for L'Arche. A grave disappointment for all who admired him, and considered him a saint, as I once did," wrote Jesuit priest and America magazine editor James Martin.

"My heart breaks for his victims, including those who will never be included in official numbers because they can't come forward," wrote activist and author Shannon Dingle.

Common themes to the reactions are shock -- and grief.

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