French actor breaks silence on child sex abuse within church
ABC News
At 8 years old, Laurent Martinez was sexually abused by a priest
PARIS -- At the age of eight, Laurent Martinez was sexually abused by a priest. Forty years later, he has chosen to make his story into a play, to show the devastating consequences and how speaking out can help victims heal and rebuild.
The play called “Pardon?” is drawn from the French author and actor's own life, describing how he felt devoured from the inside by the abuse and struggled with daily life after it.
Martinez's play was shown to bishops earlier this year, ahead of the presentation of a groundbreaking report last week that estimated that about 330,000 children in France were sexually abused over the past 70 years within France's Catholic Church.
Despite the shocking revelations, Martinez deplored that “there is no — absolutely no — sense of urgency” within the church.
