More than 50 individuals have come forward to testify about experiencing physical or sexual violence at Lasallian Catholic schools in Rouen, according to Lore Marguiraut, a lawyer representing the victims. Marguiraut described the situation as a “cluster” of abuse and noted that at least 17 perpetrators have been identified. The testimonies were collected on Thursday, September 24, by the local media outlet ICI Normandie, which covers the Seine-Maritime and Eure regions. According to Marguiraut, a victims’ collective has already identified 40 institutions where abuse occurred, including three in the Seine-Maritime department: Jean-Baptiste de La Salle in Rouen, Bellefonds school in Rouen, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste de La Salle in Darnétal. She noted that in the 1980s, as many as 15 perpetrators were active in Rouen at the same time. These individuals could have been chaplains, religious brothers, or lay staff, and were not held accountable for their actions. “It was every day,” she said, highlighting the systemic nature of the abuse. Marguiraut is now preparing to file a series of civil lawsuits on behalf of the victims. She plans to submit these cases one at a time to create a “repeated battering ram effect,” aiming to build legal precedent that will support future claims. Each case will provide legal insights that can strengthen the next one. Her strategy focuses on three main legal aspects: the origin of the abuse, the statute of limitations on legal claims, and the possibility of restarting or skipping these time limits if a victim’s health condition worsens. In addition, the victims’ collective will not meet with the Pope during his upcoming visit to France, which begins on Friday. Marguiraut expressed disappointment, noting that meeting the Pope was intended to signal a shift in the Church’s awareness of such issues. However, the Pope will meet with seven victims individually, which she called “extremely encouraging” and “very positive.” She emphasized that the goal was to treat all victims equally, without making distinctions between them.