Anatomy of a Cover-up Part I (26 January 1994 - 09 January 1995 ) This is the root of the allegations of sexual abuse, a paedophile ring and a cover-up in Cornwall, Ontario which prompted demands for a public inquiry.  The Cornwall Public Inquiry is the McGuinty government's inept offering to those demands. The lengthy chronology in the table below and in Parts II, III and IV was compiled for my own personal use and purposes a few years ago.  I decided to clean it up a little and post it because it gives a first-hand and quite detailed account of the scandal and cover-up - and it’s complexity - as it erupted into the public domain.  This list does not cover: the events of 1992 when D.S first went to the Cornwall Police, the events in 1993 when Perry Dunlop went to the Children's Aid Society, the sex abuse charges filed against Jacques Leduc and Malcolm MacDonald (MacDonald died before standing trial), the other Project Truth charges, nor the sexual abuse allegations (unproven) against former Bishop Eugene Larocque. I would also draw to your attention the fact that the lawyer who worked with the Cornwall Police Services to charge Constable Perry Dunlop under the Police Services Act and later to appeal his stay of hearings to divisional court was Colin McKinnon, the judge who took the bench at the first Leduc trial which eventually degenerated into the trial of Perry Dunlop.   Scroll down for Part I  ↓                                                                                                            Part II →   Return to theinquiry.ca                                                                        Part III →                                                                                                                Part IV →
Date	Yr.	Source	Names	Content
2 Nov	93	Cornwall Standard Freeholder	Claude Shaver	Shaver a Cornwall native, after 21 year career with the RCMP, became deputy chief of the Cornwall Police Service in 1983 and Chief in 1986, is retiring 02 Jan. ‘94.    Shaver: “There was no single issue that precipitated my early retirement, but a combination of events both professional and personal, over the past several years, led me to make this important decision.”   “I have examined my position and having considered the extreme stressors of my office, I believe my life would be more enriched to consider early retirement.  I have been lecturing on the subject of coping with stress for many years and, without practicing the teachings, I believe my health would have been drastically affected.”
4 Nov	93	Freeholder (Claudia Peel)	Claude Shaver	Speculation that Shaver, age 51, would receive as much as $250,00 to take an early retirement.   Shaver:   "I am particularly pleased with my time spent working with children and serving on boards that have dealt with children.  I have a real fondness in my heart for children."
17 Nov	93	Freeholder	Bishop Eugene Larocque   Fr. Charles MacDonald	"Fr. Charles MacDonald has resigned as Pastor of St. Andrew's Parish effective immediately.  He is resting before accepting a new assignment."
25 Nov	93	obituary	Kenneth Gordon Seguin	"passed away at his residence" age 49 years.  (Employee of the Ontario Probation Services)
6 Jan. (Len Hooper)	94	Freeholder	ex Chief Shaver   Acting Chief Carl Johnston   Bishop Larocque	- report that male victim of sexual abuse "may have been paid more than $30,000 to drop his criminal charges against a local priest."   - "Allegations that both Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese Bishop Eugene Larocque and city police had some involvement in a settlement have been circulating for weeks."   - Johnston said he was told the investigation was dropped only after the victim withdrew his complaint.   Shaver denied rumours his department and he, specifically, was involved in the settlement: "That is absolutely, totally untrue.  It's complete bunk, ridiculous.  There's not even a shred of truth to that . . . .Remember, I came out in favour of naming child molesters who are released back into the community."
8 Jan.	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Bishop Larocque   Michelle Theriault	- Bishop Larocque, in a press release Friday, said that the Church acted in accordance with guidelines for the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall in dealing with complaints.   - Larocque (in a four-page press release): "We are all agreed that a morally evil act is an offense against God and His plan for our happiness."
8 Jan.	94	Ottawa Citizen (Blanchfield and Abraham)	Victim identified as D.S.   Fr. Donald    MacDougald   Malcolm MacDonald	- D.S.  upset that details of his statement leaked and publicized this week on an Ottawa TV-station.   - MacDougald (acted as a liaison between the accused priest and the complainant) Asaid the Catholic Church may offer cash settlements to spare a priest's reputation.   - MacDougald:  "Whether there is any blame on the (accused) or not, after a court case, a person's reputation is shot."   - Malcolm MacDonald "said the recent media exposure of the case could make the settlement null and void.  However, MacDonald said that would be a decision of the Catholic Church."
Monday 10 Jan	94	Freeholder	Bishop Larocque   D.S.	"Ottawa valley man claims Cornwall police violated his privacy and victimized him a second time by making public his witness statement about being sexually abused.”   - Bishop Larocque "flatly refused on Sunday to discuss allegations of sexual abuse involving a Roman Catholic priest in the Alexandria-Cornwall diocese.        "He would only say any comments on this issue would have to come from the diocesan lawyer.  But Larocque would not name the lawyer."
Monday 10 Jan.	94	Freeholder	Bishop Larocque   M. Theriault (canon lawyer, St. Paul U, Ottawa)	- Theriault: "says payment to victims may be viewed as 'helping the healing process' if the trade off is that the priest responsible for the abuse is disciplined and given treatment."   Theriault said that no deal should ever be struck as a way to avoid a priest taking responsibility for his actions, "To do that somebody would have to be pretty dumb.  To pay off someone not to sue is not a terribly bright thing to do.  If the payoff is he gets off scott-free, that would not be right.  It shouldn't be traded off for sweeping things under the carpet.  But being discreet and silent doesn't necessarily mean sweeping things under the carpet.  If (the priest) is re-integrated it will not be in the diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.  And the other diocese will be aware of his file.  He will not be part of parish ministry, for example, but may have a desk job."   - Larocque: refused on Sunday to discuss the case but "in a prepared statement Friday said the Church wants to know about cases of sexual abuse by clergy.”
Wed. 12 Jan.	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Carl Johnston   Ottawa Police Supt'd. Brian Skinner	- Ottawa police have started a review of the handling by Cornwall police of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving a former Cornwall priest and a former probation officer.  Superintendent  Skinner & Staff Sgt. William Blake were in Cornwall this morning and had left.    - Don Lyon, deputy chief of operations for Ottawa police, says it is very common for police departments to be subject to external reviews.   - Acting Cornwall Police Chief Carl Johnston "told a news conference Tuesday it was himself and the Cornwall Police Services Board that requested the outside review."   He said that extensive media coverage of the matter may have given the public the perception that Cornwall police have attempted to "cover up" the case.  Johnson also said that Ottawa police would have access to Cornwall police files and any witnesses involved in the investigation.  They would also investigate the actions of [Perry Dunlop]
12 Jan.	94	Freeholder (Sultan Jessa)	Malcolm MacDonald   Bishop Larocque	Larocque: refused to comment on allegations the Church paid a man about $32,000 last year to drop criminal proceedings against a priest formerly of this area.    Malcolm MacDonald: "A lawyer who was involved in arranging a financial settlement between the Roman Catholic Church and an alleged victim of sexual abuse by a former Cornwall priest says there was no attempt to impede justice."  MacDonald said the out-of court settlement between the Church and the alleged victim of sexual abuse was "perfectly legal."  "The settlement was simply to avoid embarrassment" he said, emphasizing that he acted only as a "messenger" and suggesting that he had reservations about the settlement: "I have my own views about such settlements.  I am against it.  I am against paying what amounts to bribery."   - MacDonald "added that if the other parties were comfortable with the settlement, he had no problem with it.  He said it is not unusual to offer a cash settlement in a case like this to spare a person't reputation."   - "There were never any charges laid," MacDonald said, "I was retained by one of the parties in the event charges were laid."  MacDonald said he became involved when he was asked to serve as a middleman between the victim and the diocese.   - MacDonald said he was not in a position to discuss the amount of money involved.
12 Jan	94	Ottawa Citizen  (Abraham & Blanchfield)	- Bob Chiarelli (then MPP for Ottawa-West and Liberal justice critic)   - Peter Griffith, Chief Crown Attorney for Eastern region   Leo Courville (head Cornwall Police Services Board)   Perry Dunlop	- Ottawa police asked to investigate the Cornwall police case that concluded without charges after "a Roman Catholic archdiocese gave a sex abuse complainant about $30,000."  Cornwall police made the request.   - Ottawa police is also to conduct a probe into the apparent 10-month delay in the Cornwall Police Force informing the Children's Aid Society of the man's sexual abuse allegations.   - Chiarelli: asked Attorney General Marion Boyd to review the Cornwall force's handling of the case: "Is there a privileged class in our society who can avoid the law by simply buying their way out of criminal prosecution?"   Griffith: said that if a complainant makes a civil settlement it does not preclude police from pursuing criminal charges.  "It isn't against the law (to reach an out of court settlement)."   Courville: said the local Crown attorney instructed the Cornwall police to end their work on the case: "The investigators were advised that in the absence of the complainants active involvement in the case, the investigation should terminate."   Diocese: says priest in question has been reassigned to an undisclosed location. re un-named officer (Perry Dunlop): "the unnamed officer faced an internal disciplinary investigation whose outcome was unclear Tuesday."
12 Jan	94	Freeholder (Sultan Jessica)	Larocque   Richard Abell (executive director, CAS)	Larocque: has refused to confirm that a cash settlement was made.   Abell: "An inference of guilt on the part of the alleged offender is virtually guaranteed if the settlement comes to light."
??Jan	94	Citizen Blanchfield	Larocque   Peter Griffiths (chief Crown attorney, Eastern )   Jacques Leduc   Bryce Geoffrey (lawyer for DS)	Larocque: "The Bishop of the Cornwall-Alexandria diocese admitted Monday that it placed a gag order on the complainant, preventing him from co-operating with police in a criminal investigation of a priest."   - Larocque "contradicted information given to him by then diocese lawyer Jacques Leduc at a January news conference.  At that time Leduc said the man was not prevented by the out-of-court settlement from co-operating with the police."   -Larocque said neither he nor Leduc signed the settlement release: "If I had signed it, I would have seen what I was signing but I did not sign it.  Nor did Jacques (Leduc) sign it."   Griffiths: wants to know if justice was obstructed by an out-of-court $32,000 settlement but says it is too early to know.   Leduc: reported to have quit the case.  In a letter to Geoffrey last week "Leduc said he might have to be a witness in a future proceeding.  He did not elaborate."   Geoffrey:  - "Geoffrey said it was his understanding that Leduc didn’t draw up the agreement.  He said the priest=s personal lawyer , Malcolm MacDonald, likely drafted the settlement.  Asked whether this was the case, MacDonald said 'Several people had their hands in it.'"
13 JAN.	94	Freeholder	Bishop Larocque	will hold a press conference Friday.
Thurs 13 Jan	94	Ottawa Sun? (Thompson News)	Attorney General Marion Boyd	The Ontario government has rejected calls to investigate controversial sexual abuse allegations against a former Cornwall priest.    spokesman for Attorney General Marion Boyd "said Wednesday Ottawa police are investigating to see if charges are warranted.  The government is willing to trust the Ottawa police force's findings she said.  The government doesn’t see any reason to appoint its own prosecutor to the case she said.  A liberal MPP called Tuesday for the appointment of a Crown prosecutor to carry out an investigation."
14 Jan	94	PRESS CONF Bishop's statement	Bishop Larocque	Larocque:  "Our legal counsel for the diocese has explained how I 'reluctantly' agreed to the settlement of a civil dispute to which the priest in question and the Diocese both contributed.  Although it was altogether legal, I can now see by the confusion and misrepresentation caused that it was not the prudent way.  I should have maintained my original position.      "In no way did I or would I wish to impede the police investigation.  I renew my willingness to cooperate with them in every way.       "The Children's Aid asked that the priest be removed during their investigation.  He voluntarily resigned and is now in a treatment centre.       "I wish to thank my delegates in these matters, Msgr. McDougald, and to assure people that there was no attempt at a cover-up.       "Priests who are truly guilty of such actions must be stopped!  As our Conference has stated - 'zero tolerance.'  The victims must be helped in every way, especially in the Christ-like way of being asked for and granting pardon.       "Once again I urge any victims to identify themselves so that we may know the truth of the present situation and proceed to pardon and healing with the grace of God."
14 Jan	94	PRESS RELEASE 9.30 am Diocesan Centre	Bishop arocque/diocese	"...a complainant contacted the Diocesan office sometime in December of 1992 in relation to alleged sexual assaults having taken place some twenty (20) yeas ago and alleged to have been committed by a priest in a parish in the city of Cornwall.  Because the complainant was a resident of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, at the time of his contact with this diocese, he was asked to contact the authorities of the Archdiocese of Ottawa.     "In accordance with the established protocol he was received by an officer of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and a statement was taken from the complainant.     "Because the allegations included in the complainant's statement referred to the conduct of a parish priest here in the City of Cornwall in the Diocese of Alexandria, the matter was referred back to the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.     "Once again, in accordance with the protocol, Monsignor MacDougald, the appointed person responsible for receiving such complaints, had contact with the complainant and invited him to meet with a committee composed of the Vicar General, the Chancellor and the Diocesan solicitor.  This committee again is established pursuant to the terms of the protocol in question.     "This meeting was held February 9th, 1993 at which time the complainant requested a letter of apology from the priest whom he was accusing of sexual assault.      "At that time and again in accordance with policy and the protocol, offers of help and assistance were made to the complainant at the time of the meeting, in February of 1993.      "The complainant was never asked nor was it ever suggested that he not contact police, but in fact it was repeatedly suggested that he should consult a lawyer and that if he was the victim of a sexual assault, he should contact the police.      "Subsequent to this meeting, the priest being the subject of the complaint, was immediately confronted with the allegations which allegations were denied by the priest in question.     "In subsequent communications by the complainant with Monsignor MacDougald and with Malcolm MacDonald who represented the priest in question, the complainant indicated that he was undergoing therapy and requested compensation and assistance to defray these costs.      "Subsequently, the complainant agreed to accept compensation,      "As is often done in similar circumstances, without admitting liability on behalf of the Diocese or the priest, the Diocese and the priest contributed to compensate the complainant.       "The decision to do so was made notwithstanding the Bishop's own personal opinion to the contrary, but presented with the opinion of legal counsel and with the advice of some members of the clergy, the Bishop reluctantly agreed to the settlement.      "In consideration of receiving compensation, the complainant agreed to release his right to sue the Diocese and the priest for damages arising out of the alleged assault and accepted the compensation in full and final satisfaction of any claim he may have had against the Diocese or the priest.      "The complainant did so, having obtained independent legal advice.      "By coming to terms in this settlement the clergy, the diocese and the complainant and his family were spared the embarrassment and anguish of a prolonged public civil trial.     "All parties were spared the substantial costs of such proceedings for an extended period of time.      "It is common knowledge that the publicity caused by such accusations and allegations condemns by implication the priest in question, even though no criminal charges may ever be brought.      "The Diocese by this decision settles a civil dispute and does not as has been implied, pay the complainant to withdraw criminal complaints.     " There was no interference with the criminal justice system in that the investigating officers and the Crown Attorney were advised of the proposed settlement and of the settlement and no criminal charges have been laid.      "As has been stated, a settlement was made but the Diocesan authorities have cooperated fully with City Police and with other agencies in their ongoing investigations.      " These are sensitive issues which must be dealt with in a responsible and caring manner...."
Friday 14 Jan	94	Freeholder	Claude Shaver   Carlo Curis (Nuncio)   Malcolm MacDonald   Church guidelines	Shaver:  - "Former Cornwall Police Chief Shaver says he's furious with the local Roman Catholic Church for paying a man to keep silent about allegations he was molested by a Cornwall priest as a child."   - "I was extremely upset as a police officer, extremely upset," Shaver said.  "I understand there are legal precedents, but all of a sudden the police have their hands tied because of that."   - Shaver went to the Nuncio.  "I wanted to protest in the strongest possible terms."   - Nuncio: referred Shaver back to Larocque.    - after Shaver's meeting with Larocque the accused priest was removed from his church.   Malcolm MacDonald: "says he acted as a messenger between the diocese and the victim while the settlement was being negotiated."   MacDonald:  "I have my own views about such settlements.  I am against paying what can amount to bribery."   Guidelines: "drafted by a committee for the Canadian Bishops, says priests facing such accusations should be placed on administrative leave with pay, from the time there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that child sexual abuse occurred until completion of the investigative or judicial process.  This leave does not imply either the guilt or the innocence of the person under investigation."   Larocque has scheduled a news conference for today.
15 Jan	94	Freeholder	Claude McIntosh (associate editor)   Bishop Larocque   Malcolm MacDonald   Jacques Leduc	"At a news conference Friday a haggard-looking bishop somberly acknowledged a mistake in agreeing to pay the accuser.  'I can now see by the confusion and misinterpretation caused that it was not the prudent way' said Bishop Eugene Larocque."   -   "The payment was Bishop Larocque's call.  He chose to pay up.  Bishop Larocque used the word 'reluctantly.'"   - Malcolm MacDonald: "a seasoned lawyer" said he opposed the payout.       - MacDonald  "Believed he could easily have proven the priest's innocence in criminal court." He says  there are some grey areas in the accuser’s claims and wanted to know why the accused wasn't able to provide the police with specifics -  "He said, 'Oh, it happened one Sunday afternoon when he (the priest) took me for a ride out in the country.'"   - MacDonald said that two testimonials that the acuser said would support his statement turned in statements that were glowing testimonials for the priest.   - "MacDonald said he sat down with the priest and told him bluntly, 'Listen, we're friends, but I'm talking to you as your lawyer ... did you do it?'  The reply was firm.  'Malcolm, I'm innocent' I believe you, said the lawyer."   Leduc: Said that sometimes people in high profile positions panic at the thought of their name being publicly connected to a crime, especially sexual assault.  Rather than go through the agony of proving their innocence, they are willing to buy the accuser's silence:   "Put yourself in the same position."
Saturday 15 Jan	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Bishop Larocque   Jacques Leduc     Cornwall Police   Murray MacDonald (Crown Attorney)	- "a visibly shaken Larocque" says he reluctantly agreed to pay an alleged victim of sexual abuse.      - Larocque:  "I could see that by giving money it would show that it would prevent justice.  I gave in because this young man had a considerable bill with counselling."   - Larocque said that in the past the diocese has agreed to similar settlements involving alleged victims of child molesting priests.   - Larocque said the priest is in treatment inToronto, but not specifically for paedophilia.  "'If you had to live through what he lived through ... He was really, psychologically, very, very upset,' Larocque said, his voice cracking with emotion.  He said the priest is receiving treatment for stress related problems.  The priest had maintained his innocence, Larocque said."  - Larocque said he would "never again" agree to pay a similar settlement in light of the circumstances.  "If ever there is a case like this, there will never be a financial settlement." - Leduc: "the lawyer for the diocese" says it’s possible another victim who comes forward can expect a similar deal.  He said the funds were taken from the diocese and the molesting priest but refused to give a breakdown.   - Leduc said the victim was given $32,000 to pay for therapy he had already started.  He said the victim first made the request for monetary compensation in exchange for agreeing not to pursue action against the diocese or the priest and the victim asked Cornwall police to drop the investigation soon afterwards, saying he no longer wanted to proceed with laying charges.   - Leduc said that nowhere in the agreement does it say the victim can no longer pursue criminal action against the priest.  "This is a civil settlement.  You have to understand that nobody has the ability to stop a criminal investigation."   - Leduc said the priest was not removed from his ministry for several months after the victim first made a complaint because "he denied having contact with children."   - Cornwall Police: said they dropped the investigation on the advice of Crown attorney Murray MacDonald who said it would be difficult to proceed without a victim willing to testify.
Sunday 16 Jan	94	Ottawa Sun (Marchildson & Thompson)	D.S   . Bishop Larocque   Jacques Leduc	D.S. "There was a gag order," said the victim, now a 35-year-old man.  D.S. says church's claim that it did not pay hush money is untrue.   Larocque: "Yesterday Larocque refused to comment on the formr altar boy's charges, forwarding all inquiries to diocese lawyer, Jacques Leduc."   Leduc: "confirmed the man's agreement included an "undertaking not to disclose.  If he wants to call that a gag order, fine."  "No one has the ability to impede or stop a criminal investigation." (Leduc)   - Larocque and Leduc deny that the man was pressured  to withdraw criminal charges against the priest.
Sunday 16 Jan	94	Citizen (Blanchfield)	D.S.	D.S. - "says the Church never offered to help him."   - The Diocese said Friday it offered to help the man and pay for counselling, but according to D.S. "They never once helped me out on anything.  They never said 'Do you need some help?  Do you need some money for help.'  All I wanted was an apology."   -  D.S. "disagrees with several key elements of the controversial payoff and wants to set the record straight.  He has consulted his lawyer and is weighing the risks of public disclosure of the out-of-court settlement."   - D.S. said he never demanded money from the Church and that it was offered to him after his first meeting.  "By then, he said, he realized he would not get an apology and it seemed the Cornwall police probe was going nowhere so he decided to take the money."   - D.S. contradicted Leduc's comments on the gag order, saying: "It's in black and white.  I can't go on the witness stand and talk about it."   - "The man said that, as part of the settlement, the diocese required him to tell Cornwall police in writing that he would abandon his criminal complaint.  'I don't recall that,' Leduc said Saturday.    Cornwall police confirm that they were told by the man, in writing, that he was abandoning the complaint against the priest.
Monday 17 Jan.	94	? Freeholder (Len Hooper)	DS   Jacques Leduc	D.S.  Says the Church never offered support or an apology to him. He denied he ever received counselling.  He denied Leduc's allegation that he demanded money, according to D.S., the Church offered it.   Leduc: said in an interview Sunday that the diocese would have "taken the man's word for it that he was receiving counselling.   - Leduc said on Friday that the alleged victim requested money.  He repeated his Sunday statement that there had been no conditions regarding the criminal case:  "You can't do that.  It wouldn't be legal.  It wouldn't stand up," Leduc insisted.
17 Jan	94	Seaway News (Bob Roth)	Bob Chiarelli (opposition critic)	Chiarelli: "wants to know if the police dropped the charges to accommodate the settlement and/or protect the reputation of the Church/priest."   Bob Roth: references spokesman for the diocese who says the Church might offer a cash settlement to spare a priest's reputation and quotes the spokesman as saying: "Whether there is any blame on the (accused) or not, after a court case, the person's reputation is shot."   Roth adds: "Now there's an interesting stance.  Aside from signalling an open season on priests, such position is highly immoral.  We are told to obey the commandments and yet the Church is apparently prepared to pay cash to someone who violates the commandment: thou shalt not bear false witness."   Roth describes sexual abuse as "one of the most despicable crimes known to mankind."  … "I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Church should have zero tolerance of sexual abuse of children; priests who violate this most sacred trust should be defrocked.  How can a slap on the wrist and a transfer be considered any kind of deterrent?"
17 Jan.	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Benoit Brisson (victim of Fr. Gilles Deslauriers)	- exactly eight years ago Benoit Brisson broke his silence.  He complained to Larocque about Gilles Deslauriers.  Larocque said he would be removed from parish work and sent away for treatment.  Shortly afterwards, friends saw him working in a Hull parish in Quebce.  That's when Brisson decided to go public and lay charges.
18 Jan	94	? Freeholder Len Hooper	Bob Chiarelli (opposition critic)	Chiarelli: says government has been negligent in failing to open an investigation into the case of man who claims he was sexually abused by a Cornwall priest.   "Your indifference and failure to act. . .is a gross act of irresponsibility by you and your ministry," Chiarelli said in an open letter to Boyd on Monday.
Monday 24 Jan	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Bishop Larocque	Larocque: said on Sunday the $32,000 settlement did contain a clause preventing the man from pursuing criminal charges:  "I am sorry for unwittingly misrepresenting this fact . . . and again assure you of my desire to bring about Christian reconciliation of the accused priest and the alleged victim based on the truth."   - Larocque was to hold a 10am news conference today to clear up the matter.  This will be the second new conference at the diocesan centre in the 10 days since allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced nearly a month ago.   - "In Sunday's statement, Larocque says a new lawyer has been hired to deal with the alleged victim and any confusion surrounding the settlement.”  - Larocque:  urges the man to continue with the laying of charges.  "I have instructed our newly-engaged diocesan legal counsel to advise the alleged victim the diocese does not wish to interfere with his right to proceed criminally and we consider him free to do so in order that we may know the truth of the present situation." -  Larocque:  "If there are any possible victims in this case, I urge them to contact Msgr. D.B. McDougald, my delegate and/or the Cornwall police."
24 Jan	94	Seaway News (Bob Roth)		"Church officials, including Bishop Eugene Larocque, have refused to concede that the priest in question is guilty of an offense.  In fact, it has been suggested he is innocent.  Why then did the Church pay the 'non-victim' $32,000?  Is it Church policy to give money to every crackpot who makes a wild and unfounded accusation?       "This protestation of innocence is further compromised by the admission of Roman Catholic diocesan lawyer Jacques leduc that the funds were taken from the priest as well as the diocese.  People are bound to wonder why the priest would contribute if he were innocent.  Is it fair to make an innocent man pay?" - "Lawyer Leduc says the civil settlement was cheaper than going to court and was meant to spare the priest and the victim embarrassment...      "Have you noted that not one Church apologist has bothered to dwell on the moral issues here - justice, right and wrong, fair play. ...avoiding embarrassment was the preoccupation?" - "Even more disturbing is a comment made by the Bishop, paraphrased in the 15 Jan Freeholder, that the diocese has in the past agreed to similar settlements involving alleged victims of child-molesting priests.      "What?      "Exactly how many cases are we talking about? Here?  How many priests?  And where are they now?       "What is most shameful - dare I say 'sinful' - about all of this is not the alleged indecent act that may have been committed by a single priest, but rather the conspiracy to cover the whole matter up.  That required the complicity of the entire Catholic hierarchy, including the Bishop, his advisors, the Archbishop and who knows how many lawyers.       "And those who now say they did it 'reluctantly,' or went along with the scheme even though they disagreed personally, do nothing to reassure the faithful of the Church's moral backbone.      "After all, Pontius Pilate was  'reluctant' too."
Tuesday 25 Jan.	94	Freeholder (Carol Bowman)	Bishop Larocque   Jacques Leduc   Gord Bryan (diocesan bursar)	Larocque and Leduc say they didn’t read an out-of-court settlement reached with a man alleging sexual abuse against a Cornwall priest before paying $32,000.   Larocque: "described this latest twist as a 'tragedy of errors'"  "'It brings out the human side of the Church.  We all make mistakes' he said, adding he would never agree to such a settlement again." - Larocque said he has received numerous letters and phonecalls from parishioners upset at the Church's payment, and the fact diocesan funds were used. - Leduc: said the document was prepared by the priest's lawyer, Malcolm MacDonald, and not himself.  Leduc said he did not read it before it was signed:  "It was a lack of judgement on my part.  I know you may find this difficult to believe.  Some would say we're lying, but we're not," Leduc told reporters. - Leduc apologized for misleading the 14 Jan. news conference.  "I can't explain to you how (the clause is) in the document.  I made a mistake by not reading the release, maybe because I was too trusting," Leduc said.  "As you can imagine, I feel very foolish this morning and embarrassed."  - Malcolm MacDonald was not invited to the press conference and could not be contacted Monday.  But he was present at a news conference on 14 January when both Leduc and the Bishop said there was no clause to prevent the man from proceeding with criminal charges. - "Larocque said upon recommendation from Leduc he has hired Ottawa attorney Scott Aylen to take over this case.  But Leduc remains the lawyer for the diocese in other matters." - "Leduc said once the document was signed it was delivered to his office in a sealed envelope, and later given to Gord Bryan, bursar for the diocese." - Bryan: "says he simply filed the envelope without giving it to the Bishop to read.       "The sealed envelope was first opened on 19 January, after the alleged victim's lawyer notified Leduc by letter of the clause.        "'Generally these confidential documents are sealed and we do not open them unless there is a need of it,' Bryan said nervously, holding up the yellow envelope for reporters to see."
Tuesday 25 Jan	94	Ottawa Sun  (Jacki Leroux)	Bryce Geoffrey (lawyer for DS)    Brian Ford (Chief Ottawa police)	Geoffrey:  "says he finds it 'incredulous' that Cornwall's bishop never read a payoff agreement reached between his client and the Church last fall."   - Geoffrey said yesterday he finds the Bishop's statement unbelievable: "They're saying that without opening (the document) it was filed to the Church, who then filed it away without looking into it.  I don't think you have to be a lawyer to find that incredulous."    Ford: said Ottawa police will recommend the case be re-opened.                     Click here to continue. . .