French Archbishop Appoints Priest Convicted of Rape as Chancellor
- Archbishop Guy André Marie de Kerimel appointed Father Dominique Spina, convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy, as chancellor of the Toulouse archdiocese, effective September 1, as an act of mercy.
- Victim advocacy groups and Spina's victim denounced the appointment, calling it unacceptable and raising concerns about justice for abuse victims.
- Spina was convicted in 2006 for raping a 16-year-old boy and had been serving in restricted roles for years prior to his appointment.
- Archbishop Kerimel justified his decision by claiming Spina had no new accusations in 30 years, despite criticism regarding moral implications and Church law compliance.
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Toulouse, France, archbishop names rape-convicted priest as chancellor
Archbishop Guy de Kerimel of Toulouse, France. / Credit: Paralacre, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons CNA Newsroom, Jul 9, 2025 / 09:20 am (CNA). The archbishop of Toulouse, France, has drawn fierce criticism for appointing a priest previously convict... [...]


French archbishop appoints priest convicted of rape as chancellor
An archbishop in France appointed last month a priest convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy to the position of archdiocesan chancellor — telling French media that the appointment was meant as an act of mercy, and the position is mostly administrative.Toulouse Cathedral. Credit: Didier Descouens/Wikimedia. CC BY SA 4.0After the appointment made French headlines Monday, victims’ advocacy groups — and the priest’s own victim — said the appointment …
Father Dominique Spina was appointed Chancellor and Episcopal Delegate to Marriages on 2 June by the archbishop of the diocese of Toulouse. A promotion that surprises as the Catholic Church tries to turn the page of child criminality.
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