In a recently published testimonial book, Un canapé rouge. D’une emprise à la liberté [1], Claudine Blanchard, a consecrated single woman in the Emmanuel Community, reports very serious facts involving a priest, who was a member of the Emmanuel Community at the time of the facts.

This testimony, expressed with sincerity and courage, highlights the spiritual and sexual coercive behaviour that this priest allegedly exercised for several years over members of the Emmanuel Community. It refers to acts of extreme gravity that we strongly condemn.

We reaffirm our closeness and our willingness to listen to any victim, especially since this testimony is likely to revive painful wounds. We reiterate our commitment to them.

The priest in question has already been reported to the judicial authorities. This gave rise to a procedure that is now underway and in which he has been indicted. We recall that the defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

We admit that we were unable to hear certain warning signs, and that we failed to support Claudine. Her testimony, like that of others, is part of a process of search for truth and responsibility that obliges us: we must continue to re-examin our history with the same determination.

Claudine chose to share her manuscript with some members of the Community government before it was published. We thank her for her trust. Her initiative has enabled us to undertake several projects in a very concrete way. Among these, the upcoming implementation of an independent commission that will study the facts and practices mentioned in this story and their impact.

This initiative is part of a broader prevention and protection dynamic already initiated, in particular with the help of external advice, including:

• The establishment of a coordination of our actions for the prevention and protection of minors and vulnerable persons.

• Membership of the Commission de Reconnaissance et de Réparation (CRR)[2] finalized in April 2026, in France;

• The continuation of an in-depth work of re-examination and renewal of the formation and accompaniment of consecrated single women and seminarians of the Emmanuel Community.

We would like to reiterate strongly that the Emmanuel Community welcomes everyone’s word with respect and benevolence. We express our gratitude to those who have dared to speak out, and we express our support to those who do not yet have the strength to do so. May everyone know that they are free, welcomed and respected.

Our desire is to continue, united, the path that has begun: to prevent all forms of violence, to protect the most vulnerable, and to build a community that cares for and protects, one that is more transparent and more faithful to the Gospel.

We invite anyone who wishes to report abusive behaviour on the part of a representative  of the Emmanuel Community – whether a cleric or a layperson– to do so. To this end, we wish to remind everyone of the existence of support services available to all, as well as the right of every individual to refer matters directly to administrative and judicial authorities

[1] A red sofa. From a coercive control to freedom.

[2] The CRR (Recognition and Reparation Commission) is run by a French non-profit organisation established under the 1901 Act, which guarantees its legal and financial independence.