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Nationality French — Religion / ideologues / activism

Tony Anatrella

Religion, sects and spiritual movements

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “Repeated positions opposing civil partnerships, same-sex parenting and homosexuality” and “First complaints by former patients alleging sexual assaults during therapy”.

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Profile No. 1046 · Updated on 12 October 2026

5Documented controversies

7Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2016–2023

New wave of testimony, canonical proceedings and sanctions in 2018 and 2023

Civil / administrative proceedings

New accounts from former patients emerged in 2016, leading the Paris diocese to open canonical proceedings and report the matter to prosecutors. In 2018, Anatrella was prohibited from therapeutic activity and several forms of ministry; in 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and Archbishop of Paris formalised extensive restrictions: no further psychotherapy, publications, conferences, public celebrations or confessions.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
Le ParisienAbus sexuels : une procédure canonique contre le prêtre-psy Tony AnatrellaMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Vatican NewsLe diocèse de Paris sanctionne Mgr AnatrellaInstitutional responsibilityHigh reliability
[3]
Diocèse de ParisCommuniqué de presse à propos de l’issue de la procédure canonique visant l’abbé Tony AnatrellaInstitutional responsibilityHigh reliability

Last verified: 6 September 2026

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2019

Testimony from Pascal B. alleging sexual assault at age 14

No legal proceedings

In 2019, a man identified as Pascal B. gave new testimony to the Church accusing Anatrella of sexually assaulting him, including masturbating him, when he was 14.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Le Parisien / AFPSoupçons d’abus sexuels : un nouveau témoignage contre le prêtre « psy » AnatrellaMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 6 September 2026

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2016

Controversy over bishop training guidance concerning reporting to police

No legal proceedings

Training materials presented to new bishops and associated with Anatrella were criticised for stating that, depending on the legal system, reporting allegations to police was not necessarily the bishop's responsibility, prompting international controversy over duties to report abuse.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianCatholic bishops not obliged to report clerical child abuse, Vatican saysMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 6 September 2026

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2001–2008

First complaints by former patients alleging sexual assaults during therapy

Case dismissed / dropped

Former adult patients accused Anatrella of performing sexual acts under the guise of « body therapies ». A preliminary investigation opened in 2006; three complaints were unsuccessful, notably because of limitation periods.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Le MondeLe Père Tony Anatrella se dit victime d’une dénonciation calomnieuseMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Diocèse de ParisInformations relatives aux travaux en cours sur les cas d’agressions sexuellesInstitutional responsibilityHigh reliability

Last verified: 6 September 2026

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1999–2005

Repeated positions opposing civil partnerships, same-sex parenting and homosexuality

No legal proceedings

Tony Anatrella became a prominent Catholic voice strongly opposed to civil partnerships, same-sex parenting and homosexuality. In 2005, commenting on a Vatican instruction concerning admission to seminaries, he described homosexuality as an « incompleteness » and a « fundamental immaturity » of human sexuality, prompting strong criticism from LGBT groups and gay Catholics.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Le MondeLe Père Tony Anatrella se dit victime d’une dénonciation calomnieuseMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 6 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.