Former SSPX US District Superior Fr. Arnaud Rostand - Child Molester

[Bonaventure]

Source: https://stellamaris.media/f/sspx-priest-on-trial-for-abusing-7-children

A priest of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is on trial for abusing seven children.

On April 4, Fr. Arnaud Rostand, former U.S. district superior, appeared in criminal court in Gap, France, where he is charged with sexually assaulting multiple minors from 2002 to 2018 in France, Switzerland and Spain.

In his court testimony, the 58-year-old priest admitted to his crimes and apologized to victims, saying he has "always struggled against this attraction" to adolescents.

Significantly, Rostand made his SSPX superiors aware of his struggles as early as 1998, writing a letter to his superiors admitting his attraction to children. He repeated his concerns to superiors in 2000, 2006 and 2016.

Rostand himself confirmed in a 2010 interview, "In August of 2008, Bishop Fellay, the General Superior of the Society of Saint Pius X, appointed me as Superior of the District of the United States." He served as district superior from 2008–2014.

In spite of these warnings, the SSPX, primarily through Fellay, continued placing Rostand in positions of authority in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Rostand's victims were former students of SSPX academies.

The priest said he has been receiving psychiatric care since 2019.

"I realize today that I should have acted differently," he conceded in court.

In response to questioning over why he never turned himself in to police, he said, "I ask forgiveness from the victims and regret profoundly everything I have done."

TRACK RECORD OF ABUSE

The charges against Fr. Rostand come less than a year after fellow French SSPX priest Fr. Pierre de Maillard was convicted in court for abusing 27 minors over the course of 25 years.

The trial was reported across French media as a "horror trial," with de Maillard gaining the singular reputation of being named "the greatest serial predator" in France.

Rostand's trial also comes a year and a half after American SSPX priest Fr. Matthew Stafki pleaded guilty to molesting his six-year-old niece over the course of three years.

In December 2020, an SSPX teacher in France was convicted for abusing 13 children, and just two months prior, in October 2020, SSPX priest Fr. Frederic Abbet was apprehended and imprisoned in Switzerland for abusing at least five boys in his care.

In 2017, SSPX priest Fr. Christophe Roisnel was sentenced to 19 years in prison for raping and torturing three female teachers at an SSPX academy in France.

Because victims are largely shunned and ostracized by their SSPX community if they accuse a priest, and leadership has used heavyhanded tactics to silence witnesses, it remains unknown how many actual victims exist, and how many SSPX priests have abused their flock. (Read this archive for more reports.)

Former U.S. District Superior Fr. Jürgen Wegner admitted in a leaked phone call that he knew of "hundreds of cases" of abuse within the Society.

GRAPHIC TESTIMONY

According to one victim, a former student at an SSPX academy where Rostand taught: "He gave me massages on my penis. During a boat trip, he offered to drive me, then he held me by the shoulders until he caressed my stomach and my genitals under my swimsuit."

Another former student testified that during a scouting trip in Spain, "He asked to take a shower with me. Then he touched my penis and took my testicles in his hands in dead silence."

Various victims spoke about how the abuse affected them:

"I was petrified."
"I have a deranged vision of sexuality."
"Today, I have a lot of anger that I find hard to channel."
"I had a disgust for sexuality. I had to break off my engagement."

The attorney representing two of the victims said they were just "the tip of the iceberg."

Lawyers for Rostand tried to minimize his harm, dismissing claims that Rostand was a dangerous predator, instead calling him "a weak, fragile, reprehensible man."

Public Prosecutor Violaine Perrot is asking that Rostand be sentenced to four years monitored probation, with treatment, and a total ban on volunteer work or any professional ministry involving minors. She is also asking for financial compensation for the victims.

The court will issue its judgment and sentence on June 6.

SSPX RESPONDS

The SSPX issued an official statement on April 5, claiming that superiors suspended Rostand in 2014 "after ambiguous and inappropriate attitudes were brought to their attention."

"For ten years, the accused has been subject to appropriate disciplinary supervision within the Society," the statement continues.

The SSPX notes that it reported Rostand to law enforcement in 2019.

The statement ends with a call to prayer for the victims.

"As usual, Menzingen issues a press release full of half-truths and self-congratulation," said one European source whose family member was abused by an SSPX priest. He requested anonymity to protect his family.

In recent years Rostand served in an administrative capacity at SSPX headquarters in Menzingen, Switzerland, until the current superior general, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, promoted him to the post of prior (equivalent to parish priest) in 2018.

"I also know that catechism classes for children are given in the part of the general house allocated to this priory," the source said, indicating that Rostand would have had access to children, in spite of the SSPX's claims that he was under "disciplinary supervision."

The SSPX's statement omits the fact that superiors knew of Rostand's pedophilic tendencies as early as 1998, yet placed him in positions of authority on several continents. These include Asia (Ceylon and Manila, Philippines) and North America.

In 2022, Rostand was sent to Montgardin, France — nicknamed the "Golden Prison" because it serves as the SSPX's home for troubled clergy.

For instance, SSPX priest Fr. Damien Carlisle, accused of abusing young boys in Gabon, Africa, and later in New Zealand, also spends his days in Montgardin.

PLACING PREDATORS IN POWER

Numerous reports show that Fellay has a track record of placing predators back in ministry, after a short stint in "prayer and penance." The abusers often go on to continue their abuse — and so it seems in the case of Fr. Rostand.

Bishop Fellay was replaced as superior general in 2018 by Fr. Davide Pagliarani, who has been accused of following the same modus operandi as his predecessor.

"Pagliarani has acted with the same criminal recklessness and deliberate endangerment," said the European source, "since as soon as he took office (July 2018) he moved Rostand, physically in the same building in Menzingen, from bureaucrat with no pastoral function ('communications officer') to prior, therefore necessarily in contact with the faithful, families, children, etc."

Pagliarani also placed admitted pedophile Fr. Patrick Groche — longtime collaborator with Abp. Marcel Lefebvre and founder of the Gabon mission, where he is accused of molesting African boys — in Maison Saint-Ignace in Lourdes, France in 2020, near the world-famous shrine. While he technically placed restrictions on Groche to be strictly supervised, there is evidence that Groche comes and goes as he pleases and that he has access to children.

One of his victims visited the Lourdes priory in July 2022, where Groche was seen surrounded by altar boys before Mass. When Groche learned that one of his victims was present, he disappeared and remained absent throughout Mass.

Concerns remain that Rostand may have unnamed victims in India, the Philippines and North America.

[james03]

There is on Youtube a video of a happy ending after a horrendous event.  A pedo fagged a boy.  The father of the boy snuck a gun into the courthouse, and as the pedo was being escorted by police, the father jumped out and shot the pedo dead.  A jury later declared the father innocent of charges.

There is a quote, which I will paraphrase: "A characteristic of modern man is his inability to get angry.".  If you were a superior of some order, and a priest just admitted molesting a boy, your first instinct would be to lean over to the trash can and vomit, and then to pull your gun, empty the magazine, then walk over and spit on the corpse.  At a minimum, you would call the cops and laicize the pervert.  The story of Phineus comes to mind, whom the Lord Himself praised through the prophet David.

Didn't we learn after the sheer catastrophe that happened in "The Church of Accompaniment" starting with Boston?  The fact that this was allowed to happen can be due to a Hippy Jesus view (not the SSPX), or an OVER-emphasis on the spiritual side.  There are physiological malfunctions in perverts, from their dopamine system to their sexual arousal/hormonal system.  And fixing these material aspects is evidently near impossible, and even if accomplished, the risk of them going back to their depraved ways is high.

It is one thing to offer a cigarette to an ex-smoker.  The consequences are not that big.  However allowing a (former?) pedo access to children has dire consequences.  You just don't do it if you are sane.  In fact, you kick him out and have nothing to do with him after publicizing his crimes.

[LausTibiChriste]

There is on Youtube a video of a happy ending after a horrendous event.  A pedo fagged a boy.  The father of the boy snuck a gun into the courthouse, and as the pedo was being escorted by police, the father jumped out and shot the pedo dead.  A jury later declared the father innocent of charges.

Gary Plauche? That was epic

[Francisco Javier]

Can the SSPX get their own administrative state somewhere like the Vatican? Then just demand extradition of all the pedos and execute them there.

Seems like the only way to end the recidivism issue and restore public trust.

It's tough for haters to denigrate the Catholic Church (or the SSPX or whoever) if the immediate response is "yeah it was messed up, but we promptly executed them for their sins"

If the pedo priests are believers, I'm sure they'd understand the need for it both for justice for their victims, and for the benefit of the Church's supernatural work they had hoped to promote during their ministry as a priest.

[LausTibiChriste]

Significantly, Rostand made his SSPX superiors aware of his struggles as early as 1998, writing a letter to his superiors admitting his attraction to children. He repeated his concerns to superiors in 2000, 2006 and 2016.

In my humble opinion, if this is true, Rostand should be hung, but so should his superiors to whom he wrote (if he did indeed).

And that includes Fellay. I don't give a shit if it's "Fellay" - if he knew about it and kept putting him in important posts, hang him.

[clau clau]

[Michael Wilson]

Not only he that committed these terrible deeds, but also those who were in a position to stop it and either did nothing or facilitated his continued access to the victims are equally guilty. 

[Heinrich]

How does one like this make it through a screening process for the traditional priesthood?

[trentcath]

Alas, seems like problems like this are everywhere. Although, to be fair, trads (I think) have a better handle on it than the church proper. But there is clearly something about modern society, and perhaps the devil attacking the church via these people, that produces such perverted souls. Although, perhaps a perpetual problem given the writings of St Peter Damian.

[Bonaventure]

Significantly, Rostand made his SSPX superiors aware of his struggles as early as 1998, writing a letter to his superiors admitting his attraction to children. He repeated his concerns to superiors in 2000, 2006 and 2016.

In my humble opinion, if this is true, Rostand should be hung, but so should his superiors to whom he wrote (if he did indeed).

And that includes Fellay. I don't give a shit if it's "Fellay" - if he knew about it and kept putting him in important posts, hang him.

Indeed. Unless Rostand is lying in French Court, Fellay knew at least 3 times prior to making this man the US District Superior that he had an issue with underage unnatural vice.

It's hard to not take seriously those who alleged that Fellay was a plant, an infiltrator, puppet of Krah, etc.

Rostand's behavior in 2012 towards the "Resistance" is also more disgusting.

He defended Bernie and Krah to the death because they covered for his sickening perversion and faggotry.

The SSPX communiqué which has since been removed from La Porte Latine, totally whitewashed everything.

Disgusting.

[Bonaventure]

How does one like this make it through a screening process for the traditional priesthood?

Rostand was ordained in '93, so likely entered Flavigny or Écône in 86-87.

At best, only background check done would've been national police (France maybe Switzerland too).

[Greg]

If he entered seminary at 21 there was no background to check, most likely.

Fault lies with Bishop Fellay.  If the man admitted his perversion in a letter then he should have been retired off or sent to a monastery.

Inexcusable.

Bishop Williamson did a similar thing with Urrigoity of course when he accepted him into the seminary after he had been booted out of SSPX in Argentina for no less than propositioning other seminarians.

[Michael Wilson]

I knew Fr. Urrutigoiti personally and I had such a high opinion of him, that I was sure that one day he would be elected superior of the SSPX. I can see where one of these guys can fool people at the seminary.

[awkward customer]

I knew Fr. Urrutigoiti personally and I had such a high opinion of him, that I was sure that one day he would be elected superior of the SSPX. I can see where one of these guys can fool people at the seminary.

Interesting ...

Bearing in mind that Urrutigoity has been diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder - which is the clinical term for Psychopath - was there anything about him that might have indicated this?

The details of this diagnosis was posted online and came from a rehabilitation centre for priests in the Diocese of Scranton(?).  Urrutigoity was also diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, making him a narcissistic psychopath.

I used to know a consultant psychiatrist who specialised in treating people with personality disorders and he could spot a narcissist a mile away. 

But why can't we?  What was it about him that charmed everybody and why did no-one spot what lay beneath the mask?

[diaduit]

I've experienced two covert narcissists who are bad to the bone, one is a trad and one is an in law.

It took me a few years to figure out but once you see it you can't unsee it. 

Signs like talking one to one, never in groups so that there are no witnesses to their manipulation and lies.
Always talking about themselves while keeping a fake humble eyes down appearance.

If Fr Rostand is a psychopath ie bad to the bone, he knows he is doing wrong and he doesn't care and he wouldn't flag his disorder to his superiors, they take their secrets to the grave.  He sounds like a plant that climbed high in the SSPX and is now a means to discredit it. It worked for the pre Vatican II church!

Has the SSPX repeatedly ignored child safety policies?