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Abuse in the Church
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The Bishop of Bayonne rejects the priest of Urruña on charges of child abuse

Marc Aillet has banned Xavier Zabaleta from serving as a priest in the Diocese of Bayonne following a complaint of alleged child abuse in Béziers, which Zabaleta has denied.

Urruña urrugne San Bixintxo San vicente eliza iglesia

St. Vincent's Church in Urruña.

Marc Aillet The Bishopof Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron, has removed the priest of Urruña, Donostiarra Xavier Zabaleta , from his public duties as priest , after learning of a complaint against him for alleged sexual abuse of a minor, facts prior to his arrival in Urruña.

On June 14, 2024, the Archbishop ofMontpellier filed a complaint with the Beziers Public Prosecutor's Office , where the abuses would have occurred, at the time when Zabaleta worked there, so the complaint, although earlier, was not known to the Bishopric of Bayonne until March 11 this year.

Aillet said in a statement that the Beziers prosecutor had asked him to remain discreet and not to initiate any proceedings against Zabaleta until he had spoken to the police to find out about his situation and thus avoid compromising the investigation.

Following this interrogation, on 3 June, Aillet has taken strict precautionary measures against him, specifically prohibiting him from acting in any public prosecutor's office in the Diocese of Bayonne, including confessions.

Father Xavier Zabaleta, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, has been officiating since 1 September 2022 at the Church of St. Vincent de Urrugne, with a three-year agreement with the congregation authorities.

In this regard, Bishop Aillet states in his note that, since the treaty of surrender of Father Zabaleta has been terminated, his duties in the Diocese of Bayonne have also been terminated.

The Diocese of Bayonne has shown its willingness to "cooperate fully with the judicial authorities to ensure that the whole truth is established" and to maintain Zabaleta's presumption of innocence.

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