Pope Francis The Resignation Of A Paris Archbishop Who Had An “intimate relationship” With A Woman

Pope Francis The Resignation Of A Paris Archbishop Who Had An “intimate relationship” With A Woman

Pope Francis has accepted Michel Aupetit’s resignation as Archbishop of Paris, following claims that he had a “intimate relationship” with a woman.

Touchaheart Nigeria reports that  after French publication Le Point exposed the news of the relationship on November 22, the Vatican issued a statement on December 2 announcing the move.

Following the Vatican’s pronouncement, Aupetit issued a statement to affirm the decision.

“I was, of course, greatly disturbed by the attacks I was subjected to,” reads the statement.

“I ask forgiveness of those whom I might have hurt and I assure you all of my deep friendship and my prayer, which will always be yours.”

The alleged relationship came to light due to a love email Aupetit sent to his secretary by mistake in 2012, when he was the Vicar-General of Paris, according to Le Point magazine.

Despite admitting in the Le Point article that his behavior “towards her may have been ambiguous, implying the existence between us of an intimate relationship and sexual intercourse,” Aupetit firmly denied that anything actually happened between him and the lady.

“Those who knew me then, and who shared my daily life, could certainly testify that I was not maintaining a double life as the article suggests,” he said in an interview with Radio Notre Dame on November 27.” he said

“I recognize, as I have already said, that I mismanaged a situation with a person who came to me on numerous occasions. I confided this error to my spiritual guide and the ecclesiastical authority was informed.”

Aupetit’s retirement comes at a time when the Catholic Church is grappling with the public disclosure of numerous sexual assault and child abuse scandals, particularly in France.

In October, a research found that over the previous seven decades, members of the Catholic clergy in France sexually molested an estimated 216,000 youngsters.

Victims of abuse by people who were not clergy but had other ties to the Church, such as Catholic schools and youth organizations, bring the total number of molested youngsters to an estimated 330,000.