Jean Vanier Explained

Birth Date:10 September 1928
Birth Place:Geneva, Switzerland
Death Place:Trosly-Breuil, France
Nationality:Canadian
Known For:Founder of L'Arche
Awards:Order of Canada, 1972
National Order of Quebec, 1992
Legion of Honour, 2003
Humanitarian Award, 2001
Pacem in Terris Award, 2013
Templeton Prize, 2015
Relations:Georges Vanier, father
Pauline Vanier, mother
Thérèse Vanier, sister
Module:
Embed:yes
Serviceyears:1941–1950
Rank:Midshipman, naval officer
Branch:Royal Canadian Navy
Denomination:Catholic Church

Jean Vanier (pronounced as /fr/, September 10, 1928 – May 7, 2019) was a Canadian Catholic philosopher and theologian. In 1964, he founded L'Arche, an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries for people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them. In 1971, he co-founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu, which also works for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and friends in over 80 countries. He continued to live as a member of the original L'Arche community in Trosly-Breuil, France, until his death.

Over the years he wrote 30 books on religion, disability, normality, success, and tolerance.[1] Among the honours he received were the Companion of the Order of Canada (1986),[2] Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (1992),[3] French Legion of Honour (2003), Community of Christ International Peace Award (2003, later revoked), the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award (2013), and the Templeton Prize (2015).

In February 2020, an internal report published by L'Arche[4] concluded that Vanier sexually abused six women in Trosly-Breuil, France, between 1970 and 2005.[5] The investigation was conducted by the UK-based GCPS Consulting Group.

Early years and background

Vanier was the son of Canadian parents, Major-General Georges Vanier, who became the 19th Governor General of Canada (1959–1967), and his mother Pauline Vanier (née Archer). He was born in Geneva, and was the fourth of five siblings (including sister and brother Bernard Vanier), in his youth Vanier received a broad education in English and French, first in Canada and then in France and England. During World War II, Vanier and his family fled Paris just before the Nazi occupation. He spent much of the war at an English naval academy. From age 13, he trained for a career as a naval officer at the Dartmouth Naval College (later renamed Britannia Royal Naval College).[6]

In early 1945, Vanier was visiting Paris, where his father was Canadian ambassador; he and his mother went to assist survivors of Nazi concentration camps. Seeing the emaciated victims was a profoundly moving encounter for him, which he never forgot. He served in World War II with the Royal Navy and then with the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1947, as a midshipman, Vanier accompanied the Royal Family on their tour of South Africa aboard HMS Vanguard.[7]

In 1949, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, at the carrier HMCS Magnificent. In 1950, he resigned his naval commission. Vanier travelled to Paris to study as an undergraduate. He eventually went on to complete a PhD in philosophy from the Institut Catholique de Paris, with a doctoral thesis on Aristotle which was published in 1966 as Happiness as Principle and End of Aristotelian Ethics; this was his first published work. He went on to write over 30 books[8] during his career and taught philosophy at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto.[9] He left academia in 1964, seeking a more spiritual ministry. His research lives on at the Jean Vanier Research Centre located at King's University College in London, Ontario, Canada.[10]

Foundation of L'Arche

See main article: L'Arche. In 1964, through Vanier's friendship with a priest named Thomas Philippe, he became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Vanier invited two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and live with him in Trosly-Breuil, France. Their time together led to the establishment of L'Arche at Trosly-Breuil, a community where people with disabilities live with those who care for them.[11] [12] Since that time a network of 150 L'Arche communities have been established in 38 countries.[8] A governing philosophy of the communities is Vanier's belief that people with disabilities are teachers, rather than burdens bestowed upon families.

Until the late 1990s, Vanier carried the responsibility for L'Arche in Trosly-Breuil in France, and for the International Federation of L'Arche. He then stepped down to spend more time counselling, encouraging, and accompanying the people who come to live in L'Arche as assistants to those with disabilities. Vanier established 147 L'Arche communities in 37 countries around the world which have become places of pilgrimage for those involved.[13] [14]

Later life

In 1968, Vanier gave a Faith and Sharing retreat in Mary Lake, Ontario, the first in his movement of retreats where people from many walks of life are welcome.[15] The retreats continue today as part of the Faith and Sharing Federation.[16]

As of 2013, there were 13 communities in North America that organize annual retreats and days of prayer.[17] Faith and Sharing member Bill Clark, SJ, explains: "There is then a two-fold movement in Faith and Sharing: an inward movement towards God hidden in the depths of our own vulnerability, and an outward movement towards our brothers and sisters, especially those who are more poor and in need."

In 1971, Vanier co-founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu. This is an international movement of forums for people with developmental disabilities, their family and friends. Today there are over 1,500 Faith and Light communities in 81 countries around the world.[18]

Vanier continued to live in the original L'Arche community of Trosly-Breuil, France, until his death in 2019. He continued to travel widely, visiting other L'Arche communities, encouraging projects for new communities and giving lectures and retreats.[19] He was the 1998 Massey lecturer, focusing on the theme of "Becoming Human".[20] During one of his lectures, he touched on his distaste for barriers around people with intellectual disabilities, a motivating philosophy behind L'Arche: "We must do what we can to diminish walls, to meet each other. Why do we put people with disabilities behind walls?"[21]

In 2017, Vanier narrated and appeared in the documentary Summer In The Forest,[22] filmed in the L'Arche communities in Trosly-Breuil and Bethlehem and featuring many of the residents of both communities with whom he worked. Writing in the New York Times, critic Ken Jaworowski observed that "just watching the residents leads you to confront and change many of your own preconceptions."[23]

Vanier died on May 7, 2019. A week before his death, Pope Francis called Vanier to thank him for his years of ministry and service.[24] Following his death, Pope Francis, who was flying back to Rome from North Macedonia, told a group of journalists, "I want to express my gratitude for his testimony" and said Vanier could read and interpret not only the Christian gaze on "the mystery of death, of the cross, of suffering", but also "the mystery of those who are discarded by the world".[25]

Among those he influenced were the Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian Henri Nouwen who came to join the L'Arche Daybreak community in Richmond Hill, Ontario.[26]

Sexual abuse

In February 2020, an internal report by L'Arche concluded that Vanier sexually abused six women in Trosly-Breuil, France, between 1970 and 2005.[27] [28]

According to a joint statement by leaders of L'Arche International, Vanier had engaged in "manipulative and emotionally abusive" sexual relationships with six women without disabilities in France, between 1970 and 2005. Sexual relations were instigated by Vanier, usually in the context of giving spiritual guidance. The statement read, "These women reported similar facts associated with highly unusual spiritual or mystical explanations used to justify these behaviours... The relationships ... had a significant negative impact on their personal lives and subsequent relationships. These actions are indicative of a deep psychological and spiritual hold Jean Vanier had on these women." It also said that Vanier asked the women to keep the incidents secret. The women included assistants and nuns. Vanier was also a member of a small clandestine group which subscribed to and participated in some of the sexual practices of disgraced priest Thomas Philippe, the L'Arche statement said.[29]

A fuller report by an independent group commissioned by L'Arche, published in January 2023, learned of 25 different women who had experienced a sexual act or intimate gesture (such as kissing on the mouth or caresses to the body, most commonly the breasts) with Jean Vanier. These relationships in total span from 1952 to 2019.[30] Vanier would typically initiate contact through meetings nominally about spiritual accompaniment; after some time, body contact and nudity would gradually be introduced into the spiritual accompaniment sessions. The most common pattern described is one where Vanier would kneel down in front of the woman with his head against her chest and then make contact with her breasts, and, if permitted, would caress the breasts with his mouth. Some of the women only came to regard these moments of contact as abusive many years later. Vanier would often quote from the Song of Songs.The practices were founded on so-called "mystical" or "spiritual" beliefs that had been condemned by the Catholic Church, it added. Vanier described Philippe, who died in 1993, as his "spiritual father", but at first publicly denied knowledge of the practices. The investigation was carried out by independent UK consultancy GCPS.

Vanier wrote in May 2015 that he now accepted that Philippe "hurt mature and intelligent people who appear to have placed all their trust in him" and that "I am unable to peacefully reconcile these two realities."[31]

Reactions

Cardinal Thomas Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto described the events "tragic and heart wrenching". The Canadian and American branches of L'Arche have voiced their concern in various statements.[32]

In Canada, where there were many schools named after Vanier, some school boards have renamed schools named for him.[33]

In February 2020, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, posthumously stripped Vanier of two awards which the university had awarded him, including the 1994 Notre Dame Award for humanitarian service.[34] [35]

Awards and honours

Vanier received numerous awards for his work, including the Companion of the Order of Canada, Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour (France, 2003)[36] and many awards from faith groups, among them the Paul VI International Prize, the Community of Christ International Peace Award (later revoked), the Rabbi Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award, and the Gaudium et Spes Award, named after the Second Vatican Council's Gaudium et spes document.

In 1993, he received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University.[37] In 1999, he won the Writers' Trust of Canada's Gordon Montador Award for Becoming Human.[38]

In November 2004, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation poll ranked him as number 12 in a list of greatest Canadians.[39]

In 2010, the asteroid 8604 was officially named Vanier in his honour.[40] [41]

In 2013, he received the United States–based Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, established by the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.[42]

In March 2015, Vanier was awarded the $1.7 million[43] Templeton Prize in recognition of his advocacy for people with disabilities and his contributions to a broader exploration of helping the weak and vulnerable.[44]

On September 27, 2016, Vanier received the Peace Abbey Foundation (USA) International Courage of Conscience Award in Trosly-Breuil, France, for his lifelong commitment to building a world of inclusion for individuals with disabilities.[45]

Schools formerly named after Vanier

Many schools were previously named after Vanier, however, as of 2022, all of them have been renamed in light of the posthumous report of his involvement in abusive sexual relationships:

Books

References

Additional sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jean Vanier: Philosopher who dislikes the 'religion' of success wins £1.2m Templeton Prize for promoting spiritual awareness. The Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20150312112843/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jean-vanier-philosopher-who-dislikes-the-religion-of-success-wins-12m-templeton-prize-for-promoting-spiritual-awareness-10101621.html. dead. March 12, 2015. March 11, 2015. June 2, 2015.
  2. Web site: Order of Canada: Jean Vanier, C.C., G.O.Q., D.Ph.. The Governor General of Canada website. June 1, 2015.
  3. Web site: Grand Officer, National Order of Quebec. April 27, 2017.
  4. Web site: Commission d'étude . 2023-03-29 . en-CA.
  5. News: Revered charity founder 'abused six women'. February 22, 2020. BBC News. February 22, 2020. en-GB.
  6. Encyclopedia: Jean Vanier. Freeman. Mac. February 3, 2008. Historica Canada. online . March 11, 2015.
  7. Web site: Templeton Prize bio of Varnier. June 20, 2017. October 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005065112/http://www.templetonprize.org/pdfs/2015/20150311-vanier-fact.pdf. dead.
  8. https://www.economist.com/obituary/2019/05/16/obituary-jean-vanier-died-on-may-7th "Obituary: Jean Vanier died on May 7th,"
  9. Web site: Brief Chronology. Jean Vanier – Becoming Human. January 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130513142502/http://www.jean-vanier.org/en/the_man/brief_chronology. May 13, 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: Jean Vanier Research Centre at King's. www.kings.uwo.ca. August 28, 2019. May 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502123543/https://www.kings.uwo.ca/research/research-centres/jean-vanier-research-centre-at-kings/. dead.
  11. Web site: Pensamientos de Jean Vanier: JEAN VANIER y El Arca. Pensamientos de Jean Vanier. June 20, 2017.
  12. Web site: Notre histoire L'Arche en France. www.arche-france.org. fr. June 20, 2017.
  13. Web site: L'Arche – Worldwide. www.google.com. June 20, 2017.
  14. Web site: Templeton Prize. June 20, 2017. October 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005064629/http://www.templetonprize.org/pdfs/2015/20150311-vanier-fact-unabridged.pdf. dead.
  15. Web site: The Grace of Faith and Sharing. July 1988. Faith and Sharing Federation. July 23, 2014.
  16. Web site: Faith and Sharing Federation. Faith and Sharing Federation. July 23, 2014.
  17. Web site: L'Arche, Faith and Sharing, Faith and Light. Faith and Sharing Federation. July 23, 2014.
  18. Web site: Overview, Faith and Light. www.faithandlight.org. April 17, 2013 . en. June 20, 2017.
  19. Web site: Entering into Silent Prayer, Jean Vanier & Laurence Freeman – YouTube. YouTube. en. June 20, 2017.
  20. Web site: The 1998 CBC Massey Lectures, "Becoming Human". Elizabeth. Nagy. CBC . July 28, 2015.
  21. News: Canada's disciple to the disabled. Leslie. Scrivener. July 28, 2015. He is wary of institutions. The theme in last night's lecture was his fear of the walls that separate people. 'We must do what we can to diminish walls, to meet each other. Why do we put people with disabilities behind walls?' .
  22. Web site: Summer In The Forest. https://web.archive.org/web/20170511125037/http://www.summerintheforest.com/. usurped. May 11, 2017. www.summerintheforest.com. en. September 11, 2019.
  23. News: Review: 'Summer in the Forest' Captivates With Questions of Humanity. Jaworowski. Ken. March 22, 2018. The New York Times. September 11, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331.
  24. Web site: Pope Francis called Jean Vanier to thank him before his death. May 7, 2019. National Catholic Reporter. en. May 8, 2019.
  25. Web site: Pope pays tribute to Jean Vanier. May 7, 2019. Vatican News. en. May 8, 2019.
  26. Book: Nouwen (Author), Robert A. Jonas (Editor). Henri J. M.. The Essential Henri Nouwen. Jonas. Robert A. 2009. Shambhala Publications. 978-0-8348-2216-0. xxxiv. en.
  27. Web site: Respected Canadian charity founder sexually abused 6 women: report. Corbet. Sylvie. February 22, 2020. CTVNews. en. February 22, 2020.
  28. Web site: L'Arche reports sexual misconduct by founder Jean Vanier. https://web.archive.org/web/20200222152335/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/larche-reports-sexual-misconduct-by-founder-jean-vanier-19909. dead. February 22, 2020. Mares. Courtney. Catholic News Agency. en. February 22, 2020. February 22, 2020.
  29. Web site: L'Arche International announces findings of Independent Inquiry. L'Arch International. February 22, 2020. February 25, 2020. July 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210728150056/https://www.larche.org/news/-/asset_publisher/mQsRZspJMdBy/content/inquiry-statement-test?_101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.larche.org%2Fnews%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_mQsRZspJMdBy%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_col_count%3D1. dead.
  30. Web site: Control and Abuse Investigation on Thomas Philippe, Jean Vanier and L'Arche (1950-2019) p508 . Commission d’Étude mandatée par L’Arche Internationale.
  31. Web site: Internal report finds that L'Arche founder Jean Vanier engaged in decades of sexual misconduct. Michael J.. O'Loughlin. America. February 22, 2020.
  32. Web site: Sex abuse allegations against Jean Vanier met with shock and condemnation . The Catholic Register. National Catholic News Service. February 22, 2020.
  33. Web site: 2 Catholic boards in GTA 'deeply concerned' at report of sex abuse by Jean Vanier. Muriel. Draaisma. CBC News. February 23, 2020.
  34. News: Jean Vanier, once seen as a Nobel or sainthood candidate, now accused of abusive sexual relationships. Zauzmer. Julie. 23 February 2020. The Washington Post. en. March 22, 2020.
  35. Web site: University of Notre Dame revokes awards given to L'Arche founder Vanier. February 26, 2020. National Catholic Reporter. National Catholic News Service. en. March 22, 2020.
  36. News: Awards to Canadians. Canada Gazette. February 2, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430032238/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p1/2003/2003-02-08/html/gh-rg-eng.html. April 30, 2012.
  37. Web site: Jean Vanier. Concordia University. August 17, 2017. May 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507185617/https://www.concordia.ca/alumni-friends/applause/search/jean-vanier.html. dead.
  38. "Montador award winners named". North Bay Nugget, May 27, 1999.
  39. Web site: Top 100 Greatest Canadians. February 2, 2012. July 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100722204956/http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/greatcanadians/.
  40. The citation and more information are found by entering this number or name in the JPL Small-Body Database.
  41. Web site: Asteroid (8604) Vanier RASC. www.rasc.ca. June 7, 2013 . June 20, 2017.
  42. News: Deirdre Baker. Award presentation to be in France. Quad-City Times. June 17, 2013. August 6, 2013.
  43. Friedersdorf . Conor . Conor Friedersdorf . What It Means to Be Fully Human . 2015-03-12 . 2020-02-24 . . This year's winner, Jean Vanier, received $1.7 million..
  44. Web site: Current Winner. . March 11, 2014. Templeton Prize. John Templeton Foundation . March 11, 2015.
  45. Web site: Jean Vanier… To Love And Be Loved. DeMarco. Donald. August 21, 2017. The Wanderer Newspaper. en-US. May 8, 2019.
  46. Web site: L'École catholique Jean-Vanier change de nom et devient l'École secondaire catholique l'Envolée du Nord. - CSCDGR. February 3, 2021. www.cscdgr.education. January 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125100254/https://www.cscdgr.education/conseil/actualites/communiques/336-l-ecole-catholique-jean-vanier-change-de-nom-et-devient-l-ecole-secondaire-catholique-l-envolee-du-nord. dead.
  47. Web site: Cosh. Colby. Colby Cosh: Schools across Canada continue the march toward de-Vanierization . 2021-02-03. The Guardian.
  48. Web site: Board A New School Name. June 17, 2020. Halton Catholic District School Board. July 1, 2020. August 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200802004844/https://www.hcdsb.org/News/Pages/A-New-School-Name.aspx. dead.
  49. News: Alozzi . Raneem . Jean Vanier's name to be removed from Scarborough high school following allegations of sexual abuse . 25 July 2020 . The Star . 22 July 2020.
  50. News: Bradford . MJ . Collingwood Catholic High School Renamed 'Our Lady of the Bay': Formerly Named Jean Vanier Catholic High School . 28 July 2020 . Barrie 360 . 12 June 2020.
  51. News: Dosser . Travis . 2020-04-28 . Jean Vanier renamed as St. Nicholas . Sherwood Park News . 2020-12-27.
  52. News: 2020-06-17 . Former Jean Vanier school renamed St. Maria Faustina School: Regina Catholic School Division . CBC . 2020-12-27.
  53. News: Ruby . Michelle . 2020-06-24 . Jean Vanier School gets new name . . 2020-12-27.
  54. News: Cheevers . Melinda . 2020-07-17 . Welland's French-language Catholic high school gets a new name . NiagaraThisWeek.com . 2020-12-27.
  55. News: Taccone . Amanda . 2020-12-16 . New name for Jean Vanier elementary school unveiled . CTV News London . 2020-12-27.
  56. News: 2022-06-20 . Whitehorse's Catholic secondary school renamed . Yukon.ca . 2022-09-25.
  57. Expanded edition released July 2018; Living Gently in a Violent World (InterVarsity Press, 2018).

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