The Holy See has lodged a formal protest with France following a ruling by a French court that held a former high-ranking Vatican official responsible for the alleged wrongful dismissal of a nun from a religious order. The court decision, issued by the Lorient tribunal on April 3, favored the nun, Sabine de la Valette, who was known as Mother Marie Ferréol during the relevant period. She was reportedly compelled to resign from her religious order, the Dominicans of the Holy Spirit, subsequent to an investigation conducted by the Vatican.
In response to the ruling, the Vatican issued a statement asserting that it had not been officially notified of the verdict. Nevertheless, the Vatican characterized the decision as a serious infringement on the right to religious freedom. The Vatican disclosed that Pope Francis had assigned Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who was then heading the Vatican's bishops' office, to oversee an investigation that culminated in a series of canonical actions against Valette, culminating in her expulsion after serving 34 years as a nun in the order.
The Vatican's statement also raised concerns about potential diplomatic implications, given Ouellet's status as a cardinal and a representative of a foreign government. Notably, the Holy See holds sovereign state status on the international stage.
According to reports from French media outlet La Croix, the Lorient court determined that the nun's expulsion lacked justification. As a result, the court ordered Ouellet, the religious order, and other defendants to pay over 200,000 euros ($213,000) in material and moral damages, along with fines. The defendants have initiated an appeal against the ruling.
The Vatican frequently conducts internal investigations into religious orders or dioceses, often prompted by allegations of financial impropriety, sexual misconduct, governance issues, or other concerns. The Vatican views the actions it takes as internal matters within the Catholic Church.
The court's decision in Lorient represents a notable instance of secular justice intervening in internal church affairs, prompting the Holy See's diplomatic protest. The French legal system appears increasingly willing to hold even senior church officials accountable in court, particularly in cases related to allegations of clergy sexual misconduct and cover-ups.
For instance, in 2020, a French appeals court overturned a lower court's conviction of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin for allegedly concealing the sexual abuse of minors within his congregation. Additionally, in the same year, a Paris court found a retired Vatican ambassador to France guilty of sexually assaulting five men in 2018 and 2019, sentencing him to eight months in prison, which was suspended. The Vatican had waived the ambassador's immunity, enabling the trial to proceed.
