Saint-Joseph de Nay Violence Investigation – Former Students Complaint

Here’s a breakdown of the details from the provided text, focusing on the key details:

Main Topic: Allegations of abuse at the former Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram institution (now Le Beau Rameau school) in Lestelle-Bétharram, near Pau, France.

Key Points:

Complaints Filed: A collective has filed complaints concerning alleged abuse by “several supervisors and teachers, religious and lay people.”
Types of Abuse: Testimonies include reports of:
Physical violence (“baffle to overthrow him on the ground,” “punishment in the courtyard in pajamas”)
Sexual abuse (“sexual touch,” “sighs of rape”)
“Tobacco passages” (likely referring to forced smoking as punishment)
Number of Testimonies: The collective has received around 20 testimonies, concerning approximately 15 potential victims.
Previous Reporting: A May article in Humanité detailed “systemic violence” at the nearby Saint-Joseph school.
Father Bernard Lartiguet: Cited as a possible perpetrator of violence in both Saint-Joseph and possibly Bétharram. Hélène Pélant (daughter of François Bayrou) publicly stated she was physically abused by him during a summer camp.* Call to Action: The collective is urging people to “break the silence” and come forward with information.

Image Description:

The image shows a view of the school Le Beau Rameau (formerly Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram institution) in Lestelle-Bétharram, taken on February 21, 2025. The photographer is Alexandre Dimou/Reuters.