Catholic priest aims to block sex scandal film

A priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys is trying to block the release of a film about a scandal which has rocked the French Catholic church and put one of its most senior cardinals in the dock.

The acclaimed director, Francois Ozon, worked for years in secret on By the Grace of God, which will be premiered on Friday at the prestigious Berlin film festival.

But its release in France later this month is threatened, with the accused priest, Bernard Preynat, going to court to demand that it is not shown until after his trial.

His trial is due to start later this year.

A lay voluntary worker for the Lyon diocese, Regine Maire, has also issued a legal challenge to have her name removed from the film.

The movie’s premiere comes as Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, and five others, including Maire, await the

Director, Francois Ozon worked for years in secret on ‘By the Grace of God’

verdict of a court in the central eastern city on charges of covering up the abuse.

By the Grace of God centres on Devaux and Alexandre DussotHezez, “a fervent Catholic who discovers at the age of 40 that a priest who abused him is still alive and has access to children” through the church. —