63 more charges for Quebec priest

Another 63 charges have been laid against Father Paul-Andre Harvey

Harvey, a priest with the Diocese of Chocoutimin Quebec, was first charged with two counts of gross indecency and three of indecent assault in January.  At that time there were three complainants all of whom alleged abuse by Harvey when they were under the age of ten.

Today an additional 63 were laid.  There are now at least 35 complainants.

I have posted two articles in relation to the new charges, one in English and the other a google translation of a French article (the original French attached).

23 May 2012: Quebec priest hit with 63 sex charges

23 May 2012: Father Harvey is facing 35 new charges (google translation with original French)

As you can see, there are minor discrepancies between the two articles.  According to the English only article most of the complainant are female, while the google translation of the French indicates all complainants are female.

Furthermore, according to the English article, the complainants were between the ages of 5 and 12 when they alleged the abuse transpired, while according to the google translation, they were between the ages of 6 and 19.

If there are errors in the google translation which account for these discrepancies please let me know so that I can correct.

It seems that the allegations stem from the years 1963 to 1995.  Father Harvey was ordained June 1962.

Would those of you who are bilingual please keep tabs on this for us? I see no mention of specific court dates and would certainly like to keep track of these charges as they wind their way through ‘the system.’  If anyone can find a court date listed anywhere please either post it as a comment or email it to me at cornwall@theinquiry.ca

Finally, I must commend all of you who found the courage to go to police with your allegations.  Good for you!  You are not alone, and, as you now know,  were not, as you may well have thought and feared for so many years, the only one.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

******

Updates on court-dates:

(1)  Father Piotr (Peter) Sanczenko

Trail date was to have been set yesterday.  The case has been put over to 17 September 2012 to set a trial date (10 am, Chatham Ontario courthouse)

As I blogged when I first posted the news, I shudder at the very thought that this man might have grounds for an 11b stay based on violation of his Charter rights to a speedy trial.

(2) Father James Boudreau

Father Boudreau will be sentenced at 2 pm, Monday 28 May 2012 in court room # 1, the Guelph Ontario courthouse (59 Carden St.)  If you live within driving distance and are free to attend, mark your calendar now.  As always I encourage those who can do so to attend.  It is important the we all become familiar with the legal system,  and it is important that the victims know that there are people who support them.

There is yet another courtdate next week which will be of interest to those who are within driving distance of the Campbellton courthouse in New Brunswick.  At 1:30 pm, Monday 28 May there will be testimony from the probation officer who compiled the per-sentence report for Father Yvon Doiron

Doiron pled guilty to four counts of fraud totally more than $116,000.  He was to have been sentenced in March, however, his lawyer objected to the pre-sentence report claiming it “painted an unflattering portrait of Mr. Doiron”!  So, here we are.  Next Monday the probation officer who authored the report will be put on the stand and interrogated.

I hope some of you who live in the area can get there to see and hear first-hand what happens with this .

There are two more courtdates next week, but both are pre-trials and not open to the public (Fathers Jean-Claude Lefebvre and Linus Bastien)

Enough for now,

Sylvia

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Trial date?

There was to be a trial date set today for Father Piotr Sanczenko.  Has anyone heard anything?

Sylvia

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Beautiful weather

It’s a long weekend, and it’s turned into a delightfully busy one.  This morning  I was all set to hunker in and get some articles posted when the phone rang – family coming.  I think plans of husband and son are to get the canoe down from the rafters and get it in the water for the first time this year.  I meanwhile will take our little grand-daughter down to the beach to splash around in the freezing water, make mudpies and build sandcastles :)

I will get back at the site late afternoon or early evening.

Happy Victoria Day.  I don’t know about your corner of the world, but we are having absolutely beautiful weather in the nation’s capital – couldn’t have asked for better :)

Enough for now,

Sylvia

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Another Canadian priest charged

Another Canadian priest charged.

Father Mark Sullivan, a priest with the Diocese of Hamilton, has been charged following an assault investigation which commenced 13 April 2012.  Father Sullivan had been serving as Pastor at St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church in Brantford, Ontario.

I will put together what information I can find on Father Mark Sullivan and add his name to the Accused list.

The following is the statement which appeared today on the Brantford Police Service website regarding the charges:

Pastor Charged with Assaulting Young Girl

May 18, 2012

(12-13899)

A Brantford Pastor has been charged following an assault investigation

On April 13th, 2012, the Brantford Police received a complaint of an assault against a young girl.  It is alleged that the assault took place sometime between September 2011, and October 2011, at St. Basils Church, Brantford. The young victim alleged that the accused grabbed hold of her arm, pinned her down in a chair and prevented her from leaving. The victim was not injured.

Mark .L. SULLIVAN, 49, yrs, of Palace Street has been charged with Assault. SULLIVAN was released and will appear in court on June 29, 2012 in Brantford.

Anyone with new information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Laureen Bird of the Brantford Police Service Vice Section at 519-756-0113 ext. 3001.

Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous are asked to contact Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers at 519-750-8477 or 1-800-222-8477. Alternatively, a webtip may be submitted at: https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=251

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Keep an eye

Keep an eye on French CBC TV tomorrow (Friday 18 May 2012).  There is a strong possibility of news on Bishop James Wingle.  I don’t know what time. If anyone catches anything please pass on the word.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

Posted in Bishop Wingle | Tagged | 8 Comments

Defrocked

There is some confusion as to what exactly has happened to Bishop Raymond Lahey . We are told that Lahey has “been dismissed form the clerical state.”

We laity are more familiar with the terms “laicized” or  “defrocked,”  and I think it’s fair to say that most everyone understands exactly what “defrocked” means.

So, I have been going through several books on the Code of Canon Law with commentaries, and here is what I have found:

- The word “laicization” is rarely used now.  It is deemed derogatory to the laity. But, the truth is that Bishop Raymond Lahey has been laicized, in other words, he has been ‘defrocked.”

- Lahey becomes in the eyes of the Church and for legal effects a layman.

- Lahey is not permitted to wear clerical garb

- Lahey can not use the title Father or Reverend

- Lahey can no longer claim financial support from the Church (if he truly is indigent his bishop would see that he is taken care of)

- Lahey can not belong to any clerical associations

- Lahey can no longer function as a priest.  (as in the cases of all ex-priests he could give absolution to a penitent who is in danger of death)

- Lahey loses all positions, offices and functions related to the clerical state

- Lahey is freed from all clerical obligations except that of celibacy (he will however be required to pray the Liturgy of the hours in reparation for the harm and scandal he has caused and for the sanctification of clergy)

- Lahey is bound by all duties incumbent upon the laity

Adam commented on the blog that Lahey will be excommunicated if he violates the imposed canonical penalties imposed.  I can find nothing to that effect and would like to see which canon in the Code such a penalty falls.  I can see it happening if he were to marry, but wonder about it in regard to his praying the Liturgy of the Hours.  Can anyone provide the applicable canon?  I will pursue this privately but will be unable to do so until later in the day.

*****

A reminder here that, there is other Lahey business which needs fixing:

(1)  Introductory letter in Believe in me

while he was Bishop of St. George’s Diocese in Newfoundland, Lahey penned the introductory letter in the Grade 7 religion book Believe in me, part of the CCCB religion program called We are Strong TogetherIn March 2010, at the request of the CCCB, the Lahey text was obliterated from the texts in many – but not all – school boards.  I would hope ALL school boards, including the Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Catholic District School Board of Easter Ontario, will now ensure that the Lahey letter is obliterated.

(2) CBW III

Lahey also has a letter in the Catholic Book of Worship III.  The letter should be obliterated, as should all liturgical ditties which Lahey composed.

(3)  The plaque in Corner Brook, Newfoundland

And then there is the matter of the plaque bearing the name of the “Most Rev. Raymond J. Lahey” on the ceremonial cornerstone of the former Regina High School in Corner Brook Newfoundlandwhich is about to become a junior high school.  It really must go!

*****

Has anyone heard what happened in court yesterday re Father Rheal LeBlanc?

LeBlanc is also facing charges of possession of child porn.  I am sure his knees are knocking right now.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

 

Posted in Accused or charged, Bishops, Canada, Raymond Lahey, Scandal | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Lahey defrocked

 ”Bishop” Raymond Lahey has been defrocked.  He is now Mr. Raymond Lahey.

That was fast.  Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.

__________________________

Roman Catholic bishop convicted of child pornography stripped of clerical duties

Global News

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 1:43 PM

The Canadian Press,

ANTIGONISH, N.S. – A Roman Catholic bishop who was convicted of importing child pornography into Canada has been stripped of his clerical duties.

The Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., says the Holy See in Rome has dismissed Raymond Lahey from the clerical state.

The diocese says that is one of the most serious penalties that the Roman Catholic Church can impose.

In a statement, the diocese says that means Lahey can no longer preside at any religious services or sacraments.

Lahey was sentenced earlier this year to 15 months in jail after he was caught with hundreds of pornographic photos of young boys at the Ottawa airport.

Posted in Bishops, Canada, Scandal, Vatican | Tagged | 18 Comments

Updates

A court date for Holy Cross Father Rheal LeBlanc this morning (16 May 2012):  9 am, Welland courthouse (102 East Main Street), Welland Ontario.

Please pass on news of the outcome and/or links to any media coverage.

*****

Father Rene Labelle’s next court date is 05 June, 2012: 09:30 am, Kingston Ontario courthouse (279 Wellington St.) , court room #1

I will check this morning to see what this scheduled appearance is for.

*****

Keep an eye on NEW to the site for links to newly-posted articles, documents and videos (access the page manually by clicking the “NEW” tab on the horizontal menu under the picture.

Enough for now,

Sylvia

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Threats and violence

A court date for Father Rene Labelle this morning:  9 am, Kingston Ontario courthouse (279 Wellington St.).

Please, as always, keep the complainants in your prayers, and please pass on any information you might have regarding the outcome.

*****

Note that according to the following article the 74+ charges against former-fugitive-Belgian-born-Oblate priest Father Eric Dejager include the following:

one of unlawful confinement;

 one of uttering threats; and

 three counts of use of violence to prevent reporting of suspicious activity

14 May 2012:  More charges brought forward against Dejaeger

I will check to see what coverage there is today which is new.

PS:  I will tack this one in here:

14 May 2012: One more charge against Dejaeger likely: Crown

It looks as though there are indeed 77 charges in Nunavut with the possibility of one more.

(Lest we forget, there is also one charge of bestiality)

Enough for now,

Sylvia

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11th hour guilty plea

An 11th hour guilty plea from ex-priest  Albert LeBlanc:

 14 May 2012: Ex-priest pleads guilty to indecent assault

14 May 2012:  Former priest pleads guilty to indecent assault

Six guilty pleas actually: one guilty plea for each of his 6 victims.

Only six guilty pleas for 50 charges!

It has taken LeBlanc 16 months to fess up to those six charges.  I suppose that’s the way “the system” works, but I will never understand it.  It seems to me that if you did it you did it, and you know full well that you did it.  Why months on end to figure it out?  Those are months on end that victims are often treated like good-for-nothing liars.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s another wave of victimization for the victims.

Without doubt, as is usually the norm, LeBlanc will be given kudos at sentencing for the guilty pleas, and a pat on the back for sparing his victims the rigours of testifying.

I just don’t understand how they can do it and get away with it.

And, what of the other 44 charges?  There must have been a deal to let those go in exchange for a plea guilty on six? If those other 44 charges weren’t dealt with at trial today then that’s it.

Anyway, I am happy for the victims.  You came forward.  It was hard.  But, thanks to you, now we all know what Father Albert LeBlanc was all about. He is a criminal.

LeBlanc’s sentencing hearing is set for 17 August 2012.

*****

And, from Iqaluit, Nunavut, word that Father Eric Dejager was in court this morning and will be back will be 16 July 2012:

14 May 2012: Nunavut priest makes brief court appearance on 77 criminal charges.

14 May 2012: Priest facing 74 charges waives preliminary hearing

I see that one report indicates he is now facing 77 charges, and another puts the numbers at the 74 we had previously heard.  I will see what comes of the numbers in the media coverage tomorrow.  If there is still confusion I will get it sorted out.

Note that it seems there is the possibility of at least one, if not not more complainants which would also mean more charges. The RCMP investigation is ongoing.

Dejaeger has waved his right to a preliminary hearing.  I see no mention that he has waived his Charter right to a speedy trial.  I would hope that he would be obliged to and would agree waive the latter right: it would be heartbreaking for all, not to mention a terrible travesty of justice,  if he managed to get off on the argument that his Charter right to a speedy trial has been violated.

The earliest we can hope to see a trial is Spring 2013.  It is anticipated the trial will take at least a month.

Meanwhile Dejaeger’s preliminary hearing on his Edmonton, Alberta charges is scheduled for 21&22 December of this year.   (I wonder why he chose not to waive that one?)

Enough for now.

Sylvia

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