Vatican confirms Cardinal’s 2001 letter praising French bishop for shielding pedophile priest

French bishop lauded for shielding priest

PARIS — A letter confirmed by the Vatican shows top Holy See official in 2001 congratulated a French bishop for shielding a priest convicted of raping and sexually abusing minors.

The Sept. 8, 2001 letter from Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, then the head of the Vatican office in charge of priests, praised bishop Pierre Pican for risking prison time to defend the Rev. Rene Bissey.

French Catholic publication Golias published a copy of the letter on March 30. The Vatican has faced accusations of secrecy that allowed priests to rape and molest children unchecked for decades.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi on Thursday called the letter “proof” that cases of sexual abuse of minors must be handled by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. They have been since 2001.