André Fort

André Louis Fort
Bishop Emeritus of Orléans
ArchdioceseTours
DioceseOrléans
Installed28 November 2002
Term ended27 July 2010
PredecessorGérard Daucourt
SuccessorJacques Blaquart
Previous postBishop of Perpignan–Elne (1996–2002)
Orders
Ordination8 April 1962
by Lucien-Sidroine Lebrun
Consecration9 July 1995
by Jean Chabbert
Personal details
Born(1935-09-20)20 September 1935
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Died19 August 2025(2025-08-19) (aged 89)
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationPontifical Gregorian University
MottoUt sit Deus omnia in omnibus
Coat of arms
Styles of
André Fort
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

André Louis Fort (20 September 1935 – 19 August 2025) was a French Roman Catholic prelate.[1] He served as bishop of Perpignan-Elne from 1996 to 2002 and bishop of Orléans.

Biography

Born in Chalon-sur-Saône on 20 September 1935, Fort studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was ordained on 8 April 1962 within the Diocese of Autun. He was consecrated as bishop of Perpignan-Elne on 9 July 1995 and took office on 16 January 1996. He was transferred to Orléans on 28 November 2002. During his time as bishop, he emphasized the importance of Catholics not to impose their views on others, but to "make their convictions clearly heard".[2] He publicly supported the anti-abortion March for Life.[2] During the 2007–2008 Year of Solidarity, he encouraged Catholics to look out for one another and reach out to those in need.[3] He welcomed the lifting of the practice of excommunication,[4] and joined a support committee for Pope Benedict XVI.[5] He stirred up controversy for his statements regarding the distribution of condoms to fight against HIV/AIDS,[6] claiming that they cannot provide 100% protection from the virus.[7] He later apologized for his remarks but maintained that condoms are not a miracle solution to fight the virus.[8]

In 2016, three victims of abbot Pierre de Castelet, a chaplain of the Scouts of Europe, and a parish priest in Lorris accused Fort of failure to report a sexual assault on a minor.[9] Fort was allegedly a witness to the July 1993 incident and was indicted by a court in Orléans for failure to report child sexual abuse.[10] He was the first bishop to be prosecuting for failing to report such acts in France since Pierre Pican.[11] In June 2018, he was sent to a Tribunal correctionnel[12] and was sentenced to eight months suspended on 22 November 2018.[13]

Fort died on 19 August 2025, at the age of 89.[14]

References

  1. ^ "A Dieu Mgr Fort". Perpignan Cathedral (in French). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b Poulet-Sevestre, Julie (19 January 2008). "L'évêque d'Orléans soutient la "Marche pour la vie" de ce dimanche". La République du Centre (in French). Archived from the original on 21 January 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  3. ^ "2007-2008 : Année de la Solidarité". Diocese of Orléans (in French). Archived from the original on 21 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Lumière et joie de Pâques". Diocese of Orléans (in French). Archived from the original on 23 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Signez la lettre de soutien au pape Benoît XVI !". Soutien à Benoît XVI (in French). Archived from the original on 27 February 2009.
  6. ^ "Sida et préservatifs: le dérapage de l'évêque d'Orléans". LibéOrléans (in French). 27 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. ^ Israël, Christophe (27 March 2009). "André Fort, évêque hors norme". Le Journal du Dimanche (in French). Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Communiqué de Presse de l'évêque d'Orléans". Diocese of Orléans (in French). 27 March 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  9. ^ Oger, Anne (7 October 2016). "Pédophilie : l'ancien évêque d'Orléans entendu comme témoin assisté". France Bleu Orléans (in French). Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  10. ^ Vaillant, Gauthier (11 June 2017). "La justice poursuit Mgr André Fort, l'ancien évêque d'Orléans". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Pédophilie: l'ex-évêque d'Orléans rattrapé par son silence". La Dépêche du Midi (in French). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Pédophilie : l'ex-évêque d'Orléans renvoyé en correctionnelle pour non-dénonciation". Sud Ouest (in French). 28 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  13. ^ Vaillaint, Gauthier (22 November 2018). "Mgr Fort condamné à huit mois de prison avec sursis pour non-dénonciation d'actes pédophiles". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Décès de Mgr André Fort, évêque émérite d'Orléans". Diocese of Orléans (in French). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
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