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
Sex Abuse Class Action Certified
I am pleased to announce that on September 10, 2009, Justice David MacAdam of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court certified Ronald Martin’s class action lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.
Settlement Approved
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
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.
Bathurst Priest Arrested On Sexual Abuse Charges
A retired Roman Catholic Priest has been arrested in Bathurst, New Brunswick on charges of sexual abuse stemming back several decades.
CBC news has reported that 83 year old Levi Noel has been charged with 22 counts of sexual abuse. The assaults are alleged to have occurred between 1958 and 1978.
Police are asking anyone who has information about sexual abuse by the priest to contact them.
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.
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
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.
In two related decisions released last month, Justice Walter Goodfellow has ruled that the plaintiffs’ claims for compensation for assault and negligence as a result of childhood sexual abuse were statute barred. However, Goodfellow J. allowed the plaintiffs’ claims for compensation for breach of fiduciary duty to continue.
Robert Lawrence Borden and Leonard Anthony Smith were both former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children.
Borden and Smith have filed a proposed class action on behalf of all former residents of the school seeking compensation for assault and negligence as a result of sexual abuse they allege happened while they were residents were living in the Home for Colored Children.
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
