Category: Priest Abuse

Why the Antigonish Diocese Sexual Abuse Class Action Settlement is the Right Thing to do.

by John McKiggan

In 2002, Ronald Martin received a telephone call that his brother, David Martin, had been missing in the woods of British Columbia for 2 weeks. Sixteen days later David’s body was found, with a suicide note stating he had taken his life because he could not endure the pain caused by sexual abuse he had suffered as a child at the hands of Father Hugh Vincent MacDonald, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

A Promise

Ron Martin had been sexually abused by the same priest but neither brother was aware of what the other had suffered. On the day that Ron Martin had to identify his brother’s body, he made a promise that there would be accountability for the abuse they had suffered.

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Posted in: Antigonish Diocese Class Action, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Bishop Raymond Lahey Resigns as Bishop of Diocese of Antigonish

by John McKiggan

Pope Accepts Lahey’s Resignation
The Pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop Raymond Lahey from the post of Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

I have received calls from victims wondering what effect the Bishop’s resignation will have on the Class action settlement to compensate survivors of sexual abuse by priests of the Antigonish Diocese.

Compensation Process Will Continue

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Posted in: Antigonish Diocese Class Action, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Antigonish Diocese Sexual Abuse Class Action Settlement: Further media reports

by John McKiggan

Here are more media reports about Ron Martin’s class action against the Diocese of Antigonish.

N.S. Church Parishes to Pay in Sex-Abuse Settlement CBC
Interview with Bishop Raymond Lahey CBC Information Morning (requires Real Player)

Diocese to Pay $13 Million to Abuse Victims Chronicle Herald
Brother Fulfills Promise with Sexual Abuse Class Action Suit Metro News
Diocese Gives Settlement, Apology to Abuse Victims Port Hawkesbury Reporter
Diocese Settles Lawsuit for $13 Million Antigonish Casket
Sex Abuse Settlement by Church Historic TheSpec.com
Historic Settlement Reached Cape Breton Post
More Information

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Posted in: Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Settlement in Antigonish Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Class Action!

by John McKiggan

I am pleased to announce that Ronald Martin’s class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish on behalf of persons who were sexually abused by priests employed by the Diocese has been settled.

Settlement Agreement

At a press conference today, Ron Martin and Bishop Raymond Lahey signed a settlement agreement to resolve the class action lawsuit.

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Posted in: Child Abuse, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Sins of the Fathers: Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin

by John McKiggan

The sexual abuse scandal in catholic schools in Ireland has documented a “substantial level of sexual abuse” in Catholic run schools in Ireland.

Now, TV3 has produced a documentary called “Abuse of Trust: Sins of the Fathers” which documents some of the horror stories of sexual abuse by priests who were part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.

The documentary uncovers a pattern that has been repeated time and time again in countries around the world. Roman Catholic Priests sexually abusing children and persons of authority within the church covering up the allegations and moving sexually predatory priests from parish to parish.

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Posted in: Child Abuse, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Catholic Church Covered Up Child Sexual Abuse in Irish Schools: What else is new?

by John McKiggan

After ten years of investigations a government inquiry into sexual abuse in Catholic run schools, orphanages and hospitals has released an exhaustive and damning report.

Abuse Endemic
The inquiry commission uncovered:
…a substantial level of sexual abuse of boys in care that extended over a range from improper touching and fondling to rape with violence.
Corporal punishment in girls’ schools was:
pervasive, severe, arbitrary and unpredictable.
Church Knew About Dangers

The Commission determind that:
The recidivist nature of sexual abuse was known to religious authorities.
Church Concerned About Reputation, Not Risk to Children

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Posted in: Child Abuse, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Victim of Priest Sexual Abuse Receives 1.75 Million Dollar Settlement

by John McKiggan

The Roman Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario has agreed to pay Lou-Anne Soontiens $1,745,000.00, plus legal costs to compensate her for years of sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of Father Charles Sylvestre. The total value of the settlement is thought to be more than 2.2 million dollars.

Sylvestre, one of Canada’s most notorious pedophiles was convicted of sexually assaulting Sootiens.

CBC’s Fifth Estate aired a documentary about Sylvestre called “The Good Father”. As you will see from watching the documentary it is apparent that persons of authority within the Catholic Church knew about Sylvestre’s sexual abuse but did nothing to protect his victims.

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Posted in: Child Abuse, Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Pope Apologizes (Sort of) for Abuse at Indian Residential Schools

by John McKiggan

Residential School Survivors Meet Pope

A group of Survivors from Canada’s Indian Residential Schools had a private audience with Pope Benedict. The delegation was led by assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine. The group also includes one of the survivors of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, Membertou Chief Terry Paul.

Pope Apologizes to Abuse Survivors

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Posted in: Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Residential School Claims, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized

Court Date Set For Sexual Abuse Class Action Against Antigonish Diocese

by John McKiggan

There have been new developments in the class action filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish. The class action was filed by Ron Martin on behalf of all persons who were sexually abused by priests who were members of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

Case Management Judge Assigned

Justice John Murphy has been assigned to case manage the class action lawsuit. Justice Murphy will be in charge of ensuring that the class action moves forward in an orderly fashion.

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Posted in: Clergy Abuse, Priest Abuse, Priest Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Uncategorized
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