Local priest charged

The Daily Observer (Pembroke, Ontario)

06 June 2009

Posted By ANTHONY DIXON

A well known local Roman Catholic priest has been accused of sexually assaulting three victims.

Twenty-five years to the day after his ordination as a priest, Monsignor Robert Borne, 60, was charged by the Ontario Provincial Police, Renfrew County Crime Unit, for incidents alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995.

The charges were laid on April 20 of this year.

Monsignor Borne, a native of Pembroke, was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims.

He was arrested Friday when he turned himself in at the Renfrew detachment. He has been released on conditions and is to appear in Pembroke court on July 7.

Sgt. Kristine Rae, OPP Eastern Region community services/ media relations co-ordinator, said there had been an outstanding warrant for Msgr. Borne's arrest since the charges were laid in April.

She said in the interim, he "...wasn't in an area where he could be arrested."

Late Friday afternoon, Bishop Michael Mulhall of the Diocese of Pembroke issued a statement concerning the charges brought against Msgr. Borne.

"As Bishop of the Diocese of Pembroke, I wish to express my deep concern, and that of the diocese, for the people who have brought forth allegations against Msgr. Borne. Our commitment is to work in an open and co-operative way with the civil authorities as they endeavour to unfold the truth. Many persons are deeply troubled by these events and we will do all we can to express a spirit of honesty and compassion to all concerned. Our mission as a church is to build a supportive community. We wish to allow this mandate to inspire us as to how we can assist all persons affected by these matters," he said in the statement.

In 2003, Msgr. Borne became pastor of St. James Parish in Eganville, and Nativity of Our Lady Mission in Golden Lake. On September 1, 2004 he was appointed priest co-ordinator of St. Ann Parish, Cormac with particular responsibility for the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Ann, Cormac.

According to Pembroke Diocese spokesman Bruce Pappin, Msgr. Borne was transferred to the diocese office in September 2008, and assigned administrative duties. The diocese said he has not being saying mass publicly since the allegations came forward.

According to police, they began their investigation in January 2008 after receiving a complaint that Msgr. Borne had sexually assaulted a (then) teenage boy while he visiting with Msgr. Borne. The statement issued by police said that the other victims were identified as a result of the initial investigation.

Monsignor Borne was ordained on April 20, 1974. He was a curate in Mattawa between 1974 and 1975.

From 1975 until 2003 he served in a number of administrative roles including chancellor of the diocese, secretary to the bishop and curate at Our Lady of Lourdes.

He became pastor at St. James in Eganville in 2003.

Detective Const. Jamie Trader and Detective Const. Lori Birmingham, under the direction of OPP Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm, Criminal Investigation Branch, are continuing their investigation. Anthony Dixon is a Daily Observer reporter

Article ID# 1601396

Local Priest charged with sexual assault96.1 myFM RenfrewSat, 06 Jun 2009 9:31:34 EDT

An arrest has been made in sexual assault cases that date back as far as 1977. Renfrew OPP and the Renfrew County Crime Unit have charged 60 year old priest, Father Robert Borne, of Pembroke, with multiple counts of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust. OPP Sergeant, Kristine Rea, tells myFM about the charges -n:

The original complaint was made in January of 2008, and in April of this year charges were laid against Borne but the suspect was nowhere to be found. Upon returning to the Valley, Borne learned of the charges against him, and police say he turned himself in on Friday afternoon. Father Robert Borne was released on conditions and will appear in Pembroke court on July 7th.

Ontario priest accused in assaults Ottawa Valley pastor turns self in over alleged incidents dating back to 1977 The Ottawa Sun 06 June 2009

By ANTHONY DIXON, SUN MEDIA

PEMBROKE -- A well-known local Roman Catholic priest has been accused of sexually assaulting three victims. Twenty-five years to the day after his ordination as a priest, Monsignor Robert Borne, 60, was charged by the Ontario Provincial Police, Renfrew County Crime Unit, for incidents alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995. The charges were laid on April 20 of this year. Monsignor Borne, a native of Pembroke, was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims. He was arrested yesterday when he turned himself in at the Renfrew detachment. He has been released on conditions and is to appear in Pembroke court on July 7. Sgt. Kristine Rae, OPP Eastern Region Community Services/Media Relations co-ordinator, said there had been an outstanding warrant for Msgr. Borne's arrest since the charges were laid in April. She said in the interim, he "... wasn't in an area where he could be arrested." Late yesterday afternoon, Bishop Michael Mulhall of the Diocese of Pembroke, issued a statement concerning the charges brought against Msgr. Borne. "As Bishop of the Diocese of Pembroke, I wish to express my deep concern, and that of the diocese, for the people who have brought forth allegations against Msgr. Borne. Our commitment is to work in an open and co-operative way with the civil authorities as they endeavour to unfold the truth. Many persons are deeply troubled by these events and we will do all we can to express a spirit of honesty and compassion to all concerned. Our mission as a church is to build a supportive community. We wish to allow this mandate to inspire us as to how we can assist all persons affected by these matters," he said in the statement. ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE In 2003, Msgr. Borne became pastor of St. James Parish in Eganville, and Nativity of Our Lady Mission in Golden Lake. On September 1, 2004 he was appointed priest coordinator of St. Ann Parish, Cormac with particular responsibility for the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Ann, Cormac. According to Pembroke Diocese spokesman Bruce Pappin, Msgr. Borne was transferred to the diocese office in September 2008, and assigned administrative duties. The diocese said he has not being saying mass publicly since the allegations came forward. According to police, they began their investigation in January 2008 after receiving a complaint that Msgr. Borne had sexually assaulted a then-teenage boy while visiting with Msgr. Borne. The statement issued by police said that the other victims were identified as a result of the initial investigation. Monsignor Borne was ordained on April 20, 1974. He was a curate in Mattawa between 1974 and 1975. From 1975 until 2003 he served in a number of administrative roles including chancellor of the diocese, secretary to the bishop and curate at Our Lady of Lourdes. Detective Const. Jamie Trader and Detective Const. Lori Birmingham, under the direction of the OPP Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm, Criminal Investigation Branch, are continuing their investigation.

Ont. priest faces sex charges

June 6, 2009 3:01 PM

Ottawa Citizen

PEMBROKE, Ont. — A Roman Catholic priest has been charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust involving incidents between 1977 and 1995.

Monsignor Robert Borne, 60, of Pembroke, was charged in April, but was not arrested then, according to a release from the Ontario Provincial Police.

He turned himself in to police on Friday and was released under conditions.

Police began their investigation in January 2008 after receiving a complaint of a sexual assault on a man who was a teenage boy at the time.

Two other alleged victims were identified during the investigation, Sgt. Kristine Rae said in the release.

Three OPP detectives continue to investigate the case.

Borne will appear in court in Pembroke on July 7.

Pembroke is 150 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Priest charged with sex crimes

North Bay Nugget

06 June 2009

A Roman Catholic priest is charged with sexually assaulting three people.

Monsignor Robert Borne is accused of sex offences between 1977 and 1995.

In January 2008, the Ontario Provincial Police began an investigation into a complaint that Borne had sexually assaulted a teenage boy. As a result of the initial investigation, other complainants have come forward.

On April 20, 2009, Borne was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims.

He was arrested Friday and was released on conditions. He has a court date Monday.

Ottawa Valley priest charged over sexual assault allegationsCTV OttawaUpdated: Sat Jun. 06 2009 12:37:29

The Canadian PressPEMBROKE — A well-known Roman Catholic priest from Pembroke is facing several charges after three men alleged they were sexually assaulted decades ago. Monsignor Robert Borne, 60, is accused of two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to the alleged victims. Borne, a Pembroke native, was charged in late April but only turned himself in to Ontario Provincial Police on Friday. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995. Police say their investigation began with a single complaint in January 2008 that a boy visiting Borne had allegedly been sexually assaulted. Others have since come forward. Borne will appear in Pembroke court July 7. With a report from CTV Ottawa

Monsignor Robert Borne charged with sexual assault

St. James Parish priest released from custody

The Daily Observer (Upper Ottawa Valley)

06 June 2009

Posted By Debbie Robinson

A well-known Roman Catholic priest has been accused of sexually assaulting three victims.

Exactly 25 years to the day of his ordination, Monsignor Robert Borne, a Pembroke native, was charged in relation to incidents alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995.

In January 2008, the Ontario Provincial Police, Renfrew County Crime Unit, began an investigation into a complaint that Monsignor Borne had sexually assaulted a then, teenage boy, while he was visiting with Borne.

As a result of the initial investigation, other victims have been identified.

On April 20, 2009, Borne was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims.

He was arrested today, June 5, and was released on conditions. He is to appear in Pembroke court on July 7, 2009.

Detective Constable Jamie Trader and Detective Constable Lori Birmingham, under the direction of OPP Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm, Criminal

Monsignor Robert Borne charged with sexual assault

St. James Parish priest released from custody

Belleville Intelligencer

05 June 2009

Posted By Debbie Robinson, The Daily Observer

A well-known Roman Catholic priest has been accused of sexually assaulting three victims.

Monsignor Robert Borne, a Pembroke native, faces charges in relation to incidents alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995.

As a result of the initial investigation, other victims have been identified.

On April 20, 2009, Borne was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims.

He was arrested today, June 5, and was released on conditions. He is to appear in Pembroke court on July 7, 2009.

Detective Constable Jamie Trader and Detective Constable Lori Birmingham, under the direction of OPP Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm, Criminal Investigation Branch, are continuing the investigation.

Article ID# 1600653