Aix-en-Provence, France - A Roman Catholic priest on trial in this southern French town for failing to disclose the sexual abuse of minors has argued that the paedophilic acts that took place in his parish were actually good for the children.
Father Hubert Barral, 67, who heads the parish in the village of Vernegues, faces up to five years in prison if convicted on a charge of failing to assist a person in danger and failing to report a crime.
The trial is taking place amid mounting criticism of the French Roman Catholic Church, which has been accused of not taking charges of paedophilia seriously.
In his testimony, Barral defended the man accused of having sexually abused or raped two minor children, as well as a boy over the age of 18 who had psychological problems, describing the rapes as "moments when the children flowered". The alleged crimes took place between 1986 and 1998.
The victims included a British boy who was aged six when his mother abandoned him at the church in 1986 and a 12-year-old runaway.
Arrested and charged for the rapes was Marc Ruther, a 49-year-old drifter. Ruther admitted to the charges against him and said he often gave his victims dagga before raping them.
Investigators said Barral had also told one of the children that making love was a way of being in touch with God. - Sapa-AFP