” We need your help. “ An Inuit delegation from the province of Nunavut in northern Canada renewed its request for Father Joannes Rivoire’s extradition during a press conference in Paris on Thursday, September 12. This priest, Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, is accused of sexually assaulting a minor during his mission to Canada in the late 1960s.

Arriving from Canada, these six Inuit representatives wanted victims or relatives of victims “request” French justice is to extradite this 92-year-old French-Canadian priest who, according to his parishioner, abruptly fled the country in 1993 to look after his ailing parents. In the eyes of the delegation, however, the priest was “restricted” of the Oblates to leave the country.

Six sexual assault charges

“We learned through the press that an independent investigation into sexual abuse in the church was being conducted in France. If France demands justice, Rivoire will also have to answer in a Canadian court», urged Aluki Kotierk, President of Nunavut Tunngavik, the legal representation organization of Nunavut’s Inuit.

Despite two arrest warrants and six complaints of sexual assault against minors in Canada since 1998, the religious, who now lives in an Ehpad in Lyon, has always said he does not wish to appeal to Canadian justice.

“Close This Chapter”

“There seem to be two reasons for declaring Mr Rivoire freelamented Aluki Kotierk. He is a French citizen and an old man. It’s a shame. “Age and religion play no role before the lawadded Tanya Tungilik, the daughter of an Inuit woman who declared herself a victim of Father Rivoire, who has since died. If Nazi criminals can be forced to appear in court, so can Rivoire. »

” I am a survivortestified Steve Mapsalak, who also presented himself as a victim of the priest. I won’t say what happened in detail, but what he did is serious. We must close this chapter. » The healing of the victims, he said, will result in Father Rivoire appearing in the victims’ native language, Inuktitut, before a Canadian court. “We just want justice”implored Jessie Tungilik, Tanya’s brother.

Prescribed Facts

However, the extradition of Joannes Rivoire has little chance of success: under a 1927 law “Extradition will not be granted if the wanted person has French nationality”, but the religious has dual nationality, French and Canadian. In addition, no criminal proceedings can be initiated in France if the facts of the case exist. “Victims can file a complaint on French soil, but there is no possible trial,” said the lawyer Mr.^e Nadia Debbache.

Pope Francis traveled to Nunavut last July as part of his “penitential journey” to apologize for the abuses and abuses committed by priests and religious in boarding schools of the Catholic Church until 1996. “The Pope’s visit was useful to some, but the appearance of Joannes Rivoire in Nunavut would allow us to heal.”said Steve Mapsalak.

The Inuit delegation will travel to the Ministry of Justice later in the week to plead their case and then to Lyon on Thursday 14 September to meet the Superior of the Oblates of the Immaculate, Father Vincent Gruber. If Father Rivoire has not yet responded to the Inuit’s request to meet him, his parish told AFP last week that the priest “could accept” an encounter “Private”if it was him “talkable” and if his health allowed.