The Vatican has decided to dissolve the charismatic community Verbe de Vie. The responsible bishop has held initial talks with those responsible in Pensier (FR). And a former member confirmed the allegations, but also mentions good points.

Raphaël Zbinden, cath.ch /Adaptation: Regula Pfeifer

“It is still too early to say exactly what will happen to the Pensier site,” says Bishop François Touvet. He is bishop of Châlons-en-Champagne, a diocese east of Paris. Under he is in charge of managing the Verbe de Vie community until its actual dissolution. The dissolution was decided on July 1, 2023.

From France to Switzerland

Verbe de Vie is an association of believers founded in 1986 in Corrèze – in the French Massif Central – by the couple Josette and Georges Bonneval.

The community came to Switzerland in 1992, more precisely to the parish of Saint-Pierre-de-Clages in the canton of Valais, where it remained until 1996. From 1993 she was also active in the Saint-Dominique house in Pensier (FR).

In the summer of 2021, the eight consecrated Verbe de Vie sisters left the Friborg village with the intention of repeating. The lay community continued to live in the Saint Dominique house.

Unclear future of the house

Touvet has already contacted them and discussed the future of the House of Saint Dominique. But nothing concrete has come out of it, says the French bishop.

According to the bishop, he will find out about the ownership of the properties that are currently being monitored by an association. Upon request, those in charge of the Verbe de Vie in Pensier confirmed that the Saint Dominique house was the property of the community.

Bishop Touvet said: “Given the situation, a separation from the House of Saint Dominique must be considered.”

Monitoring of members a priority

Touvet cannot say what will happen to the people associated with the house. The question of the future of the members of the Verbe de Vie is “a central concern”, assures the bishop of Châlons-en-Champagne.

“An unprecedented accompanying device” was set up. They were guaranteed freedom of speech, opinion and choice regarding their future.

François Touvet commissioned a team of 20 psychologists, whose service each member can benefit from, with one appointment per week. Spiritual guidance is also provided. In addition, a telephone hotline WILL be set up.

Main concern: the consecrated women

The Bishop’s main concern is the future of the 27 consecrated women of the Verbe de Vie community. The bishop said in an interview with the newspaper “La Vie”. He has already contacted religious communities that could accept them.

The situation is different for the seven priests of the community. Because they are incardinated in the dioceses of Toulon, Brussels, Bamako (Mali) and Lausanne, Geneva and Friborg (LGF). They can join their diocese, the diocese where they minister or join a religious community elsewhere, as François Touvet says.

“There were a lot of tears”

Bishop Francois Touvet

According to the French bishop, many members of the Verbe de Vie are in deep despair. “There were a lot of tears,” he says after one-on-one talks. However, the bishop defends the need for the measure due to the community’s inability to reform.

A first canonical visit in 2002 revealed alarming abuses. A second visitation from January to April 2022 “found the same facts and gave the impression that things had not developed sufficiently”.

The couple was responsible for the house

This statement is confirmed by former members of the Verbes de Vie, particularly in Fribourg. Deacon Bertrand Georges and his wife Françoise spent 17 years (1993-2010) in the Pensier community. The couple was even responsible for this house for several years.

Bertrand Georges is currently active as a pastoral assistant in the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Friborg (LGF). He understands the decision to dissolve Verbe de Vie – given the difficulties brought to light by the recent canonical visitation. The community no longer has the strength to start a new one, he says.

Inappropriate patterns repeated

“My wife and I have become aware of the chronic dysfunctions in the community over the years,” says Bertrand Georges. The wrong path was taken from the start.” Inappropriate patterns were repeated in the various church plants,” Georges said. The will or ability to carry out the necessary reforms was never apparent.

Georges also speaks of a missed opportunity after the visitation in 2002. The reforms recommended by Bishop Bernard Louis Marie Charrier were not implemented at the time. Charrier is Bishop Emeritus of Tulle (France) and Guarantor of the Community.

Living together not well thought out

According to Bertrand and Françoise Georges, the question of the “community of living conditions” has not been sufficiently thought through. This despite their great importance for the new charismatic communities.

Because in the communities of Verbe de Vie families, celibate lay people and consecrated people live together. According to Bertrand and Françoise Georges, the community authorities did not sufficiently take into account the necessary distinctions between these different realities – each with its own requirements. This prompted the couple, among other things, to leave the Saint Dominique house in Pensier, where they had lived with their children for many years.

Despite all the criticism, Bertrand Georges says of the Verbe de Vie adventure: “One must not forget all the good that this community has done: its authentic desire to preach the Gospel and serve the Church and the beautiful things that people die in it experienced.” Over the years, Pensier has “become a sought-after place for retreats in preparation for the sacraments of communion and confirmation”.

The deacon expects that the current Verbs de Vie members will have the opportunity to continue their journey of faith in another favorable environment.