Pete Tombs on the firing of Jaqueline Laurent-Auger

Jacqueline Laurent, an actress who appeared in a couple of Jess Franco directed films that we released on DVD has apparently been fired by her employers , Montréal’s Le Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf where she has taught theatre for fifteen years. The reason they give is that she appeared in films “aimed at adults”. A strange justification for the sacking of a 73 years old, very experienced actress for parts she played some 40 plus years ago. There has not been any suggestion of any form of improper conduct by Jacqueline Laurent in her present role within the school. It seems that the mere fact she made these films and that information about them is available (if you look very hard) on the net is enough to make her an unsuitable teacher of secondary school age pupils.

 The college was apparently founded by the Jesuits, not known for their liberal attitudes. However the present administration could perhaps do well to reflect on the words of Jesus himself, who said: “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

 We feel that the decision makers of Le Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf have a lot to learn from the brave and talented Jacqueline Laurent and that the main thing their pupils will derive from her removal is that they are witnessing a major lesson in hypocrisy