Decades after the events, voices are being raised within the Lasallian Catholic education network. A group of former students has recently formed to denounce a system of physical and sexual violence that occurred between 1955 and 1985 in some twenty schools across France.

A catalogue of systemic horrors

The testimonies gathered describe a daily life marked by terror. The victims, now aged between 50 and 70, describe extremely violent abuse:

1. Physical violence: Beatings, bullying, public humiliation and acts of torture (students tied up or hung by their feet).
2. Sexual crimes: Touching, sexual assault and repeated rape.
3. Those in charge: Religious members of the congregation as well as lay teachers, the majority of whom are now deceased.

"They hung me by my feet, they had butcher knives and threatened to gouge out my eyes. It ruined my life," says Philippe Auzenet, 73, co-founder of the collective.

The congregation's response

In response to these accusations, the Congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools states that it is taking the situation "very seriously." It highlights the measures already taken:

1. Compensation: 72 complaints have been registered by an internal support unit. To date, €2.4 million has been paid to 70 victims through the Recognition and Reparation Commission (CRR).
2. Legal actions: Three reports have been sent to the public prosecutors' offices in Besançon, Évry and Reims concerning alleged attackers still alive.

The group's demands: towards a fund of 100 million euros

Although most of the alleged offenses are beyond the statute of limitations, the group refuses to accept the current response. They demand:

1. The congregation's recognition of the "systemic" nature of this violence.
2. The creation of a repair fund amounting to 100 million euros .
3. Expanding the call for testimonies to identify other potential victims.