A former bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Pierre-Marie Théas, who died in 1977 and was recognized as a "Righteous Among the Nations" for his efforts to protect Jews during World War II, is now at the center of an internal church investigation. A former student of the Béarn Catholic school Bétharram has accused the late bishop of rape, according to Mediapart. The man, who is now an adult, filed a complaint in 2025, alleging he suffered psychological, physical, and sexual abuse during his time at the school. Among the claims, he says a rape occurred in 1971 by an "old priest" in a "distant building," though the identity of the accused is not explicitly named in the report. The current bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, Jean-Marc Micas, confirmed he became aware of the situation in July 2026. The man who is accusing Mgr Théas had previously filed a complaint with the National Independent Institute for Recognition and Reparation (Inirr), a Catholic organization established in 2021 to address historical abuse cases. Bishop Micas noted that the diocese conducted a thorough search of its archives but found no evidence to confirm the allegations. Similarly, Bishop Marc Aillet of Bayonne stated that diocesan archives were rigorously checked and found no supporting documents. The Inirr is set to meet on October 6 to decide whether the victim will receive compensation. This body was created by French bishops in response to the Ciase report, which estimated that over 330,000 minors were victims of sexual violence within the Church. The Louis Joinet Institute (IFDJ), an independent NGO, conducted an extensive investigation on behalf of the congregation involved and found that between 700 and 1,500 children who attended Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram and other institutions of the same religious order from 1950 to the end of the 1990s may have experienced sexual, physical, or psychological abuse. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by the Catholic Church to address past misconduct and provide reparations to victims. While the investigation into Mgr Théas remains unresolved, it adds to a broader reckoning with historical abuse within religious institutions across France. The Church continues to balance its commitment to transparency with the challenge of verifying claims that span decades, often with incomplete records.