PARIS—A trial of a French cardinal accused of failing to act on decades-old accusations of child sexual abuse by a local priest will spotlight how senior Catholic officials, including the Vatican’s top watchdog, have handled such cases.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, is charged with failing to report a crime and endangering minors, the first time a cardinal has stood trial for covering up abuse by priests.
The charges carry a potential three-year prison sentence and fines of as much as €45,000 ($51,600). The prelate denies the charges.
And well he might. The French have a way with men owing allegiance to Rome. Even the Catholics have gone their own ways over the centuries, as in Gallicanism (French-ism), whereby they proved rebellious in matters of worship, for instance.
As for the government, well since Richelieu things have never been the same.
Blithe Spirit 