An independent investigation commissioned by L’Arche International has detailed sexual misconduct by founder Jean Vanier, the Canadian Catholic theologian and humanitarian renowned for bringing people with and without developmental disabilities together.
The investigation found that Vanier had abused six women in the context of spiritual direction. None of the women had disabilities.
“We are shocked by these discoveries and unreservedly condemn these actions, which are in total contradiction with the values Jean Vanier claimed and are incompatible with the basic rules of respect and integrity of persons, and contrary to the fundamental principles on which L’Arche is based,” the leaders of L’Arche International, Stephan Posner and Stacy Cates-Carney, wrote in a letter to L’Arche federation Feb. 22.