When it's Time to Get Help

Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Increases Award to Lalo Sexual Abuse Victim

by John McKiggan

Our Court of Appeal has released their reasons in the appeal of L.M.M. v. Attorney General (Nova Scotia).

The appellant/plaintiff L.M.M. was sexually abused by his probation officer, Cesar Lalo. Lalo was convicted of assaulting the boy. As a result of the sexual abuse the trial judge stated:

So I have examined these two life patterns. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lalo “event” generated a significant and lasting change in LM’s life plan.
And I have asked myself what was the hope and promise of his life before Lalo.
Could he have lived even a conventional or somewhat normal life, but for this event? Will he ever get back on the track his life might have taken but for this event? What is the long-term difference between the life he has today and one he might have had, if the probation officer he met was an honourable and decent man. LM’s life changed dramatically for the worse after he passed through that sliding glass door into Caesar Lalo’s “care” at the age of 13.

Nowhere to Hide: Internet Helps Bring Sexual Abuser to Justice

by John McKiggan

Great article by Bob Weber of the Canadian Press about the hunt to bring Eric Dejaeger to justice.

Dejaeger a catholic priest, pleading guilty to sexually abusing nine children while he was in Nunavet. He was released after serving less than a year in jail. RCMP then charged him with three counts of indecent assault and three counts of buggery stemming from his time in Igloolik.

Dejaeger fled to Belgium after being charged. He lived freely and openly with the Oblates in Brussels despite the efforts of the Canadian authorities to extradite him to face charges.

Vatican’s Abuse Guidelines: Action or Window Dressing?

by John McKiggan

The Vatican’s Guidelines to Bishops for dealing with claims of priest sexual abuse has now been released.

Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, also released a brief letter accompanying the Guidelines.

Levada says that the Guidelines were drafted to “…facilitate the correct application” of the Pope’s previous instructions.

Amnesty International Names Vatican for Failing to Protect Children

by John McKiggan

Today Amnesty International published it’s annual report Amnesty International Report 2011: The State of the World’s Human Rights, which examines human rights offences in various countries throughout the world.

The report concludes:

“…the Holy See did not sufficiently comply with its international obligations relating to the protection of children”.

Vatican to Issue New Abuse Guidelines

by John McKiggan

The Associated Press reports that the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith plans to release new guidelines advising Bishops on how to deal with cases of sexual abuse of children by priests.

The guidelines have been in the works for at least six months. In November last year, Cardinal William Levada indicated the Vatican would recommend establishing prevention programs, better screening of priests and advise Bishops to obey civil reporting requirements.

Need a Recommendation to Obey the Law?

Catholics Must Discuss Sexual Abuse Openly and Honestly: Kenny

by John McKiggan

Last weekend Summerside Prince Edward Island hosted the annual convention of the Catholic Women’s League.

The keynote speaker was Sister Nuala Kenny, a Professor Eeritus at Dalhousie University and a policy advisor to the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada. Sister Kenny has dedicated much of her life to addressing the tragedy of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

In her address to the CWL, Sister Kenny urged all Catholics to work together with their Bishops and Clergy to renew and revitalize the church. However, to do so, she said that the church has to talk openly about how the sexual abuse of children has been allowed to happen and find a way to ensure that it never happens again.

Church Covered Up Abuse: No Punishment Necessary

by John McKiggan

Justice David Little issued a damning decision today castigating former Bishop John Sherlock and the Roman Catholic Church for years of covering up sexual abuse by Canada’s most notorious pedophile Father Charles Sylvestre.

Cover Up

In a strongly worded judgement Justice Little stated:

Probation Officer Lets Sex Offender Coach Minor Hockey: Province Responsible for Harm

by John McKiggan

The Province of British Columbia was recently held vicariously liable for the sexual abuse of a convicted sex offender who sexually abused a minor hockey player that he was coaching.

Reasons for judgment were recently released by Justice Dley in D.K.B. v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of the Province of British Columbia.

Failure to Notify

N.S. Court of Appeal Upholds Acquittal of Wife who Plotted to Kill Abusive Husband

by John McKiggan

While this blog is normally dedicated to cases and news involving sexual abuse, I thought a recent decision of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal merited comment.

Landmark Decision

In a ground breaking decision, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has upheld the acquittal of school teacher Nicole Ryan who had been charged with trying to arrange for the murder of her abusive husband. Ryan was charged after hiring an undercover police officer to kill her estranged husband.

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