Uncategorized Archives - Page 17 of 26 - Halifax Sexual Abuse Claims Blog

June 25th, 2008

Media Reports of Antigonish Diocese Sexual Abuse Class Action

Here is some of the media coverage of Ron Martin’s class action on behalf of persons who were sexually abused by priests from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

Sex-abuse suit alleges conspiracy by Catholic Church: CBC News
Class-action suit filed against Roman Catholic diocese in N.S. over alleged abuse: The Canadian Press
Church facing class action (Suit alleges Catholic diocese failed to protect kids from abuse) : Chronicle Herald
N.S. Catholic bishop: Church open to helping sex abuse victims: Canadian Press

Class-action filed against N.S. Catholic diocese: Canwest News

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June 24th, 2008

Sexual Abuse Class Action filed against R.C. Diocese of Antigonish and Cape Breton

by John McKiggan

Our firm has filed a class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish for compensation for victims of sexual abuse by priests from the Diocese.

The claim is the first class action in Nova Scotia filed under the new Class Proceedings Act.

The representative plaintiff is Ronald Martin. Ron’s brother of David Martin committed suicide 6 years ago. David’s suicide note revealed that he had been sexually abused by Father Hugh Vincent MacDonald, a former priest of the Antigonish Diocese.

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June 19th, 2008

Documentary Explores Vatican Sexual Abuse Cover Up

by John McKiggan

Vows of Silence is a new documentary by journalist Jason Berry, that explores Fr. Marciel Maciel Degollado, and the Catholic group, Legionaries of Christ.

The Vatican eventually found Maciel Degollado guilty of multiple acts of sexual abuse spanning decades. His punishment? His public ministry was restricted.

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June 18th, 2008

Prosecutor Wants Bountiful Polygamous Probe Reopened:

by John McKiggan

The special prosecutor who has been asked to investigate the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints community in Bountiful, British Columbia plans to ask the RCMP to reopen their criminal investigation into the polygamous religious community.

The Globe and Mail reported that Vancouver lawyer, Terry Robertson says that:

“The law says it is an offence for a person in a position of authority over another to sexually touch someone if they are under 18,”

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June 11th, 2008

Remembering Nora Bernard

by John McKiggan

Today survivors of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School gathered to hear an historic apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They also gathered to pay tribute to Nora Bernard, whose tireless efforts played a key part in the multi-billion dollar Residential Schools class action settlement.

I was honoured to be invited by Nora’s family to join the gathering.

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June 11th, 2008

Prime Minister Offers Historic Apology to Residential School Survivors

by John McKiggan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology to survivors of Indian Residential Schools today.

In an historic moment, he apologized on behalf of all Canadians for the destruction wrought by Canada’s policy of forced assimilation. CBC has extensive coverage of the apology and the history of the schools.
Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture.

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June 10th, 2008

Bishop on Trial: Convicted of Covering up Sexual Abuse by Brother

by John McKiggan

Episcopal Bishop Charles Bennison is on trial in ecclesiastical court facing accusations that he covered up sexual abuse by his brother, who is also a priest, on a 14 year old girl.

The Bishop is not facing criminal charges, nor is he being sued in civil court. The trial is taking place under the rules of canon (church) law. A panel of 5 bishops, 2 clergy and 2 lay members will decide whether Bennsion violated church rules Title IV of the Canons of the Episcopal Church by failing to disclose that his brother, John Bennison was having sexual relations with an underage female parishioner.

The Philidelphia Bulletin has reported that :

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June 5th, 2008

Supreme Court Overturns Conviction of Sex Abuser Who Confessed: 3 Times!

by John McKiggan

The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned the conviction of 73-year-old who confessed (three times!) to sexually abusing three children.

In a stinging indictment of the police that investigated the crimes, the Court unanimously ruled that police “knowingly and deliberately” used information that had been illegally obtained in order to obtain the confessions.

The Globe and Mail has reported that police in Kamloops interrogated Dieter Helmut Wittwer three times. Each time he confessed to sexually assaulting 3 girls between the ages of five and six years old.

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June 3rd, 2008

Repressed Memory of Sexual Abuse a Creation of the Media?

by John McKiggan

The media has been full of reports over the outrage caused by disgraced priest and convicted sex abuser Paul Shanley’s appeal based on the (supposed) unreliability of “repressed memory”.

I posted about the story last week Priest Sex Abuser Appeals Conviction: Denies Existence of Repressed Memory .

Today I read an interesting post by Tim Lytton on the PrawfsBlawg about the issue. He makes the point that the media attention surrounding the various priest sexual abuse scandals has perhaps over estimated the incidence of repressed memory in historical sexual abuse cases.

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June 3rd, 2008

Mennonite Elder Ordered to Pay for Sexual Abuse: Ontario

by John McKiggan

A founding member of a Mount Forest Mennonite community has been ordered to pay compensation to a man that he sexually abused as a child.

CTV news has reported that 84 year old Amsey Bearinger is currently serving a two year sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing 17 children over two decades.

Bearinger, an Elder in the Mennonite Church, has been ordered to pay compensation to a man who was just 8 years old when Bearinger began to sexually assault him.

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