In May 1991, Jean-Michel Rousseau, founder of the Fondacio community, was forced to resign following the revelation of sexual abuse of adult women during spiritual and work counseling. A major effort to reexamine his spirituality and review governance to correct detected deviations was undertaken in conjunction with church leaders. Institutionalization work began, leading to the establishment of canonical statutes. At the time, nothing was communicated regarding the seriousness of the sexual abuse or the suffering experienced by the victims. No long-term follow-up was implemented.
Since 2019, a new awareness among Fondacio's management has allowed them to refocus on the issue. The implementation of several decisions and bodies has encouraged victims to speak out for the first time. To learn more, you can consult the information note below, which presents the process undertaken.
If you have a testimony to share about this period in Fondacio's history or have been a victim of control or sexual abuse, you can contact one of the following three bodies:
Independent listening unit
In the context of situations of control and sexual abuse committed in particular before 1991 within the “Fondations du monde nouveau” community (now Fondacio), you can contact the specialist psychologist Ms. Charlotte Coutansais by sending her an email to make an appointment: abus.fmn@gmail.com
Your anonymity will be guaranteed.
CRR - Recognition and Reparation Commission
The CRR was created by CORREF (Conference of Religious Men and Women of France) to recognize and provide redress to victims of alleged sexual violence committed by members of religious institutes or member associations of the faithful. Fondacio joined the CRR in March 2022.
Contact: victims@crr.contact
Independent Study Commission on Abuses at Fondacio
In conjunction with the CRR, Fondacio commissioned a rigorous and independent study on Fondacio's history, the various types of abuse committed there, and how they were understood by a six-member independent study commission, chaired by Brigitte Debernardy. It plans to submit its findings in June 2026. Its report will be made public.
To provide testimony to the Commission: b.debernardy@commissionetudefondacio.org
