“Father Fumery was the second French priest in a month to take his own life.”
A French priest has taken his own life in his church after being accused of sexual misconduct, officials say.
Pierre-Yves Fumery hanged himself in his presbytery in the central town of Gien, Catholic authorities said.
Last week he was questioned by police, but not charged, following allegations of sexual assault involving a child under 15, news agency AFP said.
Father Fumery, 38, was the second French priest in a month to take his own life after similar abuse claims.
“It is a moment of suffering and a tragic ordeal,” Orléans Bishop Jacques Blaquart told the media.
He said some of Father Fumery’s parishioners had complained about alleged “inappropriate behaviour” towards children aged 13-15.
One example Bishop Blaquart mentioned was of a girl “that he took into his arms and drove home several times”.
Research:
Homosexuality has further corrupted the Roman Catholic Church