Skip to content

Vatican sends letter to French embassy over tribunal decision in nun’s dismissal case

The Holy See on Saturday confirmed that it had sent a diplomatic letter to the French embassy over a French court ruling involving a Canadian cardinal’s alleged wrongful dismissal of a nun.

The Holy See on Saturday confirmed that it had sent a diplomatic letter to the French embassy over a French court ruling involving a Canadian cardinal’s alleged wrongful dismissal of a nun.

A French court in Lorient, in Brittany, earlier this month had fined Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, along with several other parties, for the October 2020 wrongful dismissal of Sabine Baudin de la Valette, whose religious name was Mother Marie Ferréol.

Baudin de la Valette, 57, had reportedly lived in the French monastery since 1987 without any significant incidents, but in 2011 she denounced “serious abuses and facts” happening in the community. 

She was dismissed from the community after a visit from Ouellet. It was never made public what exactly the Vatican accused her of, though the former sister reportedly said the dismissal decree “accused her of having an evil spirit but gave no concrete reasons.”

On Saturday, meanwhile, Vatican News reported that Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni confirmed to reporters the Vatican Secretariat of State’s transmission of a “Note Verbal,” or a diplomatic message, to the Embassy of France to the Holy See.

The letter addressed the “alleged decision of the Tribunal of Lorient in France in a civil dispute concerning the dismissal from a religious Institute of Ms. Sabine de la Valette (formerly Sister Marie Ferréol),” Bruni told reporters. 

“A potential ruling from the Lorient Tribunal,” Bruni told journalists, “could raise not only significant issues concerning immunity, but if it ruled on internal discipline and membership in a religious institute, it might have constituted a serious violation of the fundamental rights to religious freedom and freedom of association of Catholic faithful.”

Ouellet, who previously served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, “never received any summons from the Lorient Tribunal,” Bruni said. 

The Vatican learned of the tribunal’s decision “only from the press,” Bruni said on Saturday. 

The court also accused the religious community, among other things, of not correctly following the dismissal procedure. There was no prior warning and no reason for the dismissal from the community.

In addition, the court said, the community breached its duty of care when dismissing Baudin de la Valette, who was not offered any financial compensation that would have enabled her to “enjoy appropriate civil living conditions after 34 years of religious life and service to her community in the spirit of justice and charity as set out in canon law.”

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Pope Francis Appoints Austin, Texas, Bishop Joe Vásquez as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Pope Francis named Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez to replace 75-year-old Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as head of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Servant of God Joseph Dutton’s cause for canonization sent to Vatican

In the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii, the local phase concluded Sunday for the cause of canonization of Servant

Seven New Saints Canonized by Pope Leo XIV

On October 19, 2025, one of the most solemn events of the Jubilee Year unfolded in St. Peter’s

St. Pius V, safeguard of the faith

Every April 30th, we honor Pope Saint Pius V, a 16th-century leader who defended the Church and Christian Europe. Elected prior four times for his holiness and wisdom, he was a true Defender of Faith and a reformist Pontiff.

Jesuits: New restrictions against Rupnik possible in light of credible abuse accusations

The Society of Jesus said Tuesday it will open a new internal procedure on Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik

Holy Family Church leaders in Gaza will ‘stay and serve’ amid evacuation orders in city

Despite evacuation orders and intensifying strikes, Holy Family Church in Gaza — the city’s only Catholic parish — says its Emergency Committee will remain to care for displaced residents sheltering there.

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNit