A damning report, published on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, exposes the dark practices that took place within the Congregation of the Benedictine Nuns of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre (BSCM) . The 142-page document, the result of two years of work by an independent commission, denounces a system of near-dictatorial violence and abuse spanning from 1969 to 2012 .

A system of terror and control

Under the leadership of the former superior, Mother Marie Agnès (who died in 2016), the community allegedly descended into cult-like behavior. The report, chaired by Hervé Giaume, documents nearly 1,500 cases of mistreatment .

The modus operandi was based on the destruction of individuality:

1. Total isolation: Recruitment of young girls, severing of family ties, reading of correspondence and listening to visiting room conversations.
2. Climate of paranoia: Systematic use of denunciation, espionage and blackmail between sisters.
3. Physical exhaustion: Forced "hyperactivity" to prevent any critical thinking, even resorting to the use of drugs to subdue the most rebellious.

Unprecedented physical and psychological violence

Although no sexual abuse was documented, the report describes acts of extreme cruelty. The commission refers to a "narcissistic personality disorder" where food was used as a tool of torture: forced meals, unbalanced diets, and force-feeding sessions leading to vomiting.

Financial plunder and lavish lifestyle

The control extended to their finances as well. From the moment they entered, the nuns saw their assets seized by the ruling trio.

1. Inheritance capture: Bank accounts and savings books emptied for the benefit of the congregation.
2. Embezzlement: While the sisters lived in deprivation, the management led a luxurious lifestyle (holidays on the French Riviera, private real estate investments).

Towards repair and increased vigilance

The report criticizes the passivity of the Diocese of Paris , which allegedly failed to fulfill its oversight role during these four decades. Among the 58 recommendations issued, the commission demands:

1. An official acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the Church.
2. Financial compensation and reimbursements for the victims.

A note of hope: The commission points out that, despite persistent fragility, the congregation has undertaken a profound restructuring since 2014 and has now returned to normal operation.