via Vatican News:

In a letter sent on 22 February to the L’Arche Federation, the leaders of the movement made public the conclusions of the investigation which they had entrusted to an external and independent body. The investigation included testimonies implicating its founder, Jean Vanier, and his links to Fr Thomas Philippe, a Dominican priest, whom he considered to be his spiritual father.

Since 2014, several testimonies by women who had been sexually abused by Thomas Philippe had been received by L’Arche officials, which prompted this investigation. This long-term probe also uncovered acts of abuse committed by Jean Vanier. “In the course of this investigation, sincere and consistent testimonies spanning from 1970-2005 were received from six adult women without disabilities indicating that Jean Vanier initiated sexual relations with them, generally as part of spiritual accompaniment. Some of these women have suffered deep wounds,” reads the press release published by L’Arche.

“These actions indicate the psychological and spiritual hold that Jean Vanier had over these women and show his adoption of some of Father Thomas Philippe’s deviant theories and practices,” reads the statement from the movement. The shock wave among the leaders of L’Arche is immense.