On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, after six years of legal proceedings during which he was placed under house arrest, Noël NSHIBIA PAMU, a priest of the Diocese of Kinshasa and a member of the Emmanuel Community, appeared before the Nantes Criminal Court for acts of sexual assault committed against a minor under the age of 15.
He was sentenced to three years in prison, including one year suspended, as the main penalty, and a ten-year ban from engaging in any professional or volunteer activity involving regular contact with minors, as a supplementary penalty.
Following this judgment, we were informed that Noël NSHIBIA PAMU, while not contesting his responsibility, has appealed the decision regarding his prison sentence. This decision to appeal is his right, which we respect.
We unequivocally condemn these acts, which violated a young girl’s dignity and privacy. We wish to once again express our deep compassion to the victim and her family. We acknowledge their courage and endurance throughout these long years of legal proceedings and assure them of our support and prayers.
The events date back to November 2018, when Father NSHIBIA PAMU was serving as vicar at Sainte Madeleine Parish in Nantes. A criminal investigation was initiated by the French justice system, and the Bishop of Nantes immediately took precautionary measures suspending him from all functions related to his ministry. A canonical procedure (an internal judicial and disciplinary process within the Catholic Church) was also initiated but was subsequently suspended pending the decision of the French justice system.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Roman authority within the Catholic Church responsible for cases involving minors, will now be re-engaged to resume the canonical procedure. Until the conclusion of this process, Father NSHIBIA remains prohibited from any public ministry.
We remind everyone that support services are available for any person wishing to report abusive behavior by a representative of the Catholic Church, whether clergy or lay. Below are the relevant contact details.
Independent Organizations in France outside the Catholic Church
• National Independent Platform for Victims of Sexual Abuse within the Church
A team of professionals provides support, listens to victims, and facilitates connections with local organizations to offer free legal, psychological, and social assistance.
Phone: 01 41 83 42 17 (available from 9 AM to 9 PM, every day including Sundays and public holidays).
• The National Child Protection Helpline (SNATED)
Website: https://www.onpe.gouv.fr/snated
Phone: Dial 119 for assistance.
Support Services Within the Catholic Church
• Regional Victim Support and Listening Unit
Composed of professionals from the health sector (psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, school nurses) and three lawyers, this unit is dedicated to supporting victims of sexual abuse who were minors at the time of the incidents committed by individuals with an ecclesiastical mission (priests or laypersons). The unit reports its actions to the bishop concerned.
Contact: paroledevictimespaysdeloire@gmail.com
• The Prevention and Abuse Prevention Commission of the Emmanuel Community
To reach out, please contact via email: ecoutevictime@emmanuelco.org.
Your email will be reviewed by a commission member, who will contact you to arrange a listening session.
• The National Canonical Criminal Tribunal (established in December 2022)
– To report an offense: promoteurdejustice@tpcn.fr
– For legal information: contact@tpcn.fr
• The National Independent Body for Recognition and Reparation (INIRR)
INIRR aims to uphold justice and provide reparation for victims of sexual violence within the Church when they were minors.
