Ottawa Valley priest faces additional sex charges

The Daily Observer (Pembroke, Ontario)

15 July 2009

Posted By JON WILING, SUN MEDIA

Provincial police have laid more sex charges against an Ottawa Valley priest, who already faces accusations going back more than 30 years.

Monsignor Robert Borne, 61, was further charged yesterday with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust after police identified more complainants, who were teenaged boys at the time of the alleged incidents. Borne appeared in a Pembroke court yesterday.

In April, Borne was charged with six offences based on incidents alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995 involving three people. He was arrested in June. Renfrew County OPP continue to investigate.

Priest faces charges

The Daily Observer (Pembroke, Ontario)

15 July 2009

Posted By DEBBIE ROBINSON EDITOR@THEDAILYOBSERVER.CA, WITH FILES FROM ANTHONY DIXON

Police have laid more charges against Monsignor Robert Borne, who was already facing six sex-related assault charges involving three alleged victims.

The monsignor has been charged with an additional two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to two people.

In April, the Ontario Provincial Police, Renfrew County Crime Unit, charged the 61-year-old Roman Catholic priest in connection with incidents that are alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1995 in relation to three victims.

In June 2009, the OPP began an investigation into further complaints that Monsignor Borne had sexually assaulted other teenage boys.

As a result of the initial investigation, other people have come forward.

The well-known local Roman Catholic priest is a native of Pembroke.

He was arrested June 5 when he turned himself in at the Renfrew detachment.

At the time of the monsignor's arrest, 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 Sept. 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 allegedly sexually assaulted a then teenage boy while he visiting with Msgr. Borne. The statement issued by police said the other alleged 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 the OPP Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm, Criminal Investigation Branch, are continuing their investigation.

Pembroke priest charged with assaulting two more victims

OTTAWA — A high-ranking Roman Catholic priest from Pembroke is facing additional sexual assault charges after two more alleged victims have been identified by police.

Monsignor Robert Borne, 61, appeared in Pembroke court Tuesday, where he faced two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to allegations that he sexually assaulted two teenage boys between 1977 and 1995.

Borne received the same charges in April for alleged incidents involving three teenage boys over the same period.

In June, OPP officers began investigating new accusations that Borne had sexually assaulted other teenage boys. That investigation produced the new charges, according to the OPP.

Borne is a former parish priest at St. James Church in Eganville and pastor for Nativity of Mary, a mission church in Golden Lake.

He also once ran a small parish in Cormac, where he helped to organize an annual pilgrimage to a shrine dedicated to St. Ann every July.

He later served as a bishop’s assistant and with the chancery office in Pembroke.

OPP officers Detective Constable Jamie Trader, Detective Constable Lori Birmingham and Detective Inspector Jeff Bahm are continuing the investigation.

Since the first charges were laid, Borne has reportedly been assigned to administrative duties with the Pembroke archdiocese.

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