1995 - 2005: 10 years at
the service of exclusion
Ten years ago, you were called
to go to Rome. What memory do you keep of this meeting you had
at the Vatican?
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I attended a trial with no counsel for my defence and a sanction
with no appeal. In half an hour everything was finished. The
round-trip Evreux-Rome by night train only served me from hearing
the sentence: « Tomorrow, you will cease to be Bishop of
Evreux at noon.» |
I did not expect that. A scandal. I felt this was unjust.
This feeling of injustice will affect many people. By removing
me from my office, other people also will feel they were sanctioned.
Then I said to myself: «Today, we must build tomorrow.
This is the beginning of a new life. There is not a minute to
lose! »
Soon after returning to France,
thousands of people felt mobilized to support you. What souvenir
do you have of these demonstrations during your last Episcopal
mass at Evreux?
I remember first an occupied bishop's palace. Coming back
from Rome I was in a hurry to get back to Evreux. For the first
time I could not enter the palace: the crowd had invaded it as
soon they learned the news by the media. People were in every
room. |
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Then the last mass in the Cathedral: it represents for me
the great times of Evreux, the most beautiful Pentecost of my
life. They were non-believers inside and believers outside the
church. Boundaries had fallen. All a people had risen up and
spoke out. |
In 2000, Mgr. Bille, President
of the Conference of the French Bishop, recalled that you are
a "brother among the Bishops of France". In 2005 what
brotherly message would you like to send to your brothers in
the episcopate?
I will not allow myself to send a message to the Bishops.
I have already shared my experience. My attention is not focused
on the institution and the Roman Catholic Church is my family.
When one starts from the world of the exclusion, every
thing in the Church can be transformed. The cultural evolutions
offer an opportunity to come back to the Gospel, to discover
new ways of living, to be more creative, to be able to do new
things « To new wine new barrels!»
Since 10 years, Partenia has become
an association to help those who are « without» What
is the word of Jesus that guides you every day in your mission
as a Bishop?
«What you have done to the most humble one of mine,
you did it to me» It is a word that stays in me.
By being in solidarity with all those that the society
is continuously excluding, you cannot escape from being on the
side of justice and peace. The future cannot be built on injustice.
The Church is not really herself without the poor. |