Father Paul Breau (University of Moncton website)
Paul Breau
Priest, ordained 1955 for the Archdiocese of Moncton, New Brunswick
Extract from Moncton Archdiocese list of Priests in Ministry on website October 2016 (Moncton Archdiocese Priests in Ministry October 2016)
Lawsuit filed alleging Fathers Breau and Father Yvon Arsenault repeatedly sexually abused (sodomised) a young boy at St. Joseph’s RC Church in Shediac in the early 1980s. The boy, who was 13-years-old when the abuse began, was at the time a young offender ordered to do yard work on the rectory and/or church grounds: The two priests were said to responsible for supervising the boy. The abuse spanned a two-year period in the 80s.
Né le 30 janvier 1931 à Moncton; fils de Fred Breau et de Lydia Gaudet. Études : Séminaire St.-C de Marie, Halifax, Univ. St-Joseph et Collège Sulpicien à Montréal. Ordination : le 9 avril 1955 à Moncton par Mgr Norbert Robichaud. Ministère : vicaire : Cathédrale (1955-1967) et directeur de l’œuvre des vocations; desservant : Sunny Brae (1967-1968), curé : Saint-Ignace (1968-1970) et études en catéchèse à Québec; Christ-Roi, Moncton (1971-1981) ainsi que vicaire forain; St-Joseph, Shédiac (1981-1990), St-Anselme, Dieppe (1990-2000), Prêtre assistant : St-Louis-de-France, Lewisville, N.-D.-d’Acadie, U de M, N.-D.-de-la-Paix, Moncton (2000-2007), Aumônier, N.-D.-de-la-Paix, U de M (2007- ).
07 December 2017: The 86-year-old was about to be arraigned on sex assault charge – but, according to CBC report, the charge was withdrawn “after the Crown learned that he [Breau] was mentally incompetent for a trial.” The charge related to an incident dating to 1985 and 1986 in Shediac, N.B.
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Spent years serving as Chaplain at University of Moncton.
Introduced the Cursillo movement to the Moncton Archdiocese in 1979 and has been active in the movement ever since. (scroll down to 1979)
Involved with Teen Encounter, one of many youth movements within the Church
Served on the National Secretariat for the French Cursillo movement (Father Breau – French Cursillo National Secretariat)
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Archbishops of Moncton Archdiocese from time of Father Paul Breau’s ordination to present: Norbert Robichaud (25 July 1942 – 23 March 1972) ; Donat Chiasson (23 March 1972 – 21 September 1995);Ernest Léger (27 November 1996 – 16 March 2002 ) André Richard, C.S.C. (16 March 2002 – 15 June 2012);
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07 December 2017: Priest accused of sexual assault won’t have to go through trial
09 October 2016: BLOG There are five lawsuits
08 October 2016: BLOG A ring???
08 October 2016: Five new sex abuse lawsuits filed against Catholic Church
07 October 2016: New Brunswick lawsuit alleges abuse by former chaplain, Roman Catholic priests
07 October 2016: New Brunswick lawsuit alleges abuse by former chaplain, Roman Catholic priests
07 October 2016: BLOG It’s posted
07 October 2016: BLOG Lid’s coming off the garbage can
07 October 2016: 4 New Brunswick priests caught in sexual abuse allegations
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Unless otherwise indicated the following information is drawn from copies of the annual Canadian Catholic Directory which I have on hand (CCCD), media (M) and information from the Moncton Archdiocese Priests in Ministry October 2016 (CV)
07 December 2017: sex assault charge withdrawn just before arraignment – the Crown apparently learned that Father Breau was not fit to stand trial (M)
October 2016: Listed on Archdiocese of Moncton website as member of the Presbyteral Council (Father Breau -member of Presbyteral Council)
2007-2016: Chaplain, N.-D.-de-la-Paix, University of Moncton (CV)
2015: Retired around May 2016 – will continue to serve as Chaplain during the week at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Moncton, and to fill in for priests throughout the archdiocese (Father Breau retiring)
Father Paul Breau is retiring from parish ministry after 60 years of service to the Archdiocese of Moncton. I sincerely thank Fr. Breau for all his ministry and great dedication in many parishes and particularly at the university parish of Notre-Dame d’Acadie in last 15 years. We wish him a well-deserved retirement as he will continue as part-time chaplain on weekdays at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Moncton and offer his services as a substitute priest.
03 May 2015: celebrated 60th anniversary of ordination at Notre-Dame d’Acadie (M)
2015: Spiritual advisor for Moncton NB Cursillo movement (Father Paul Breau -Spiritual advisor for Moncton Cursillo Movement)
29 April -01 May 2011: Cursillo in Moncton, New Brunswick (Father Breau-Cursillo and Ultreya)
29 February 2011: ‘saying’ Mass at an Ultreya (meeting of those who have attended a Cursillo weekend) Cursillo in Moncton, New Brunswick and Ultreya (Father Breau-Cursillo and Ultreya)
09-12 November 2007: Cursillo weekend at the Habitant Motel in Richibouctou (Father Breau – extract from bulletin)
17 May 2010: Celebrates 55th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood (Father Breau-55th anniversary – U. of Moncton ) The following is a google translation of the text in the link:
Father Paul Breau celebrates 55 years of priesthood
This is mainly with people from the parish of Notre-Dame d’Acadie in Moncton Campus where he worked for ten years as Father Paul Breau celebrated the 55 years of priesthood.
His commitment to youth dates back to the beginning of his priesthood, including the Assumption Centre (now the building of Radio-Canada Acadie), the College Assumption, Teen Encounter with …
In addition to ensuring the proper functioning of the parishes he had charge over the years, Breau father took the time to get involved with people, whether with the Cursillo, with prisoners or even people from different parishes.
Father Breau, thank you for being a witness of Jesus and the Good News.
– 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013. 2012, 2011, 2010: address in index: apartment on av. Acadie, Dieppe, New Brunswick with phone number 506-854-xxxx – same address and phone number as 2002 (CCCD)
2000-2007: assisting at St-Louis-de-France, Lewisville, N.-D.-d’Acadie, University of Moncton, U de M, N.-D.-de-la-Paix, Moncton (CV)
25 June 2006: conducting a Cursillo weekend at the Habitant Motel in Richibouctou (Father Breau-Cursillo weekend in Richibouctou)
07 February 2006: at the Cistercian-Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of Calvary, New Brunswick for a “short retreat” (Father Breau on retreat at Cistercian-Trappist-Monastery of OurLady ofCalavry-archived-chronicles-2006-text-only)
Tuesday 7 – Two pastors, Fr. Paul Breau and Father Leo Paul LeBlanc, of the diocese of Moncton are here for a short retreat. The one is semi-retired and the other fully retired.
– 2002: address in index: apartment on av. Acadie, Dieppe, New Brunswick 506-854-xxxx (CCCD)
1990-2000: St. Anselme Roman Catholic Church. Dieppe, New Brunswick (CV)
2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991: Pastor, St. Anselme Roman Catholic Church. Dieppe, New Brunswick (CCCD)
– 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991: contact person for vocations in the archdiocese (CCCD) (no longer listed as contact for Vocations after 1998)
1981-1990: assistant (?) priest at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Shediac (M)
– Lawsuit filed 2016 alleging Fathers Paul Breau and Father Yvon Arsenault repeatedly sexually abused (sodomised) a young boy at St. Joseph’s RC Church in Shediac. The boy, who was 13-years-old when the abuse began, was at the time a young offender ordered to do yard work on the rectory and/or church grounds: The two priests were said to responsible for supervising the boy. The abuse spanned a two-year period in the 80s.
– Along with others founded Vestiare St.-Joseph Inc., an organization to provide food, clothing and furniture to the needy (bFather Breau-food bank, 1985)
Sister Blanchard, Father Paul Breau, Claudette Stymiest, Patricia Sirois, and others, founded the Vestiaire St-Joseph in 1985. Their goal was to create a small organization that would provide food, clothing, and furniture to families in need.
The Vestiaire St-Joseph was first situated in the Shediac presbytery. Claudette Stymiest asked the town council for help finding a bigger building. The council offered her an old building that had to be moved from its lot. Since it was for a good cause, the town council sold the building for the price of one dollar and it was moved to what is now known as Vestiaire Street, where it would stay for thirty years.
1985: Pastor, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Shediac (CCCD)
1971-1981: Pastor, Christ the King, Moncton, New Brunswick (CV)
– Vicar forain (CV)
– introduced the Cursillo movement to Moncton, New Brunswick (Father Breau extracted pages from Pelerins en marche -May 2006) The following is a google translation of of the first para of Father Breau’s article:
A bit of history. In the late 70s, the Movement Cursillo was going to take root Moncton. Two priests and a nun had written several Quebec dioceses to be accepted as candidates and candidate … But the curious fact, responses were negative, except for the Outaouais region, with Fr. Nazaire Auger, who opened us their doors and their heart in missionary spirit. Then they helped us in the 0rganization our first Cursillo in us providing members the team. It was first Cursillo on 2 December 1979 and we went to the 78th Cursillo, after giving birth to MC in the Diocese of Bathurst.
– 1973-74: Pastor, Chirst the King (Christ-Roi) Roman Catholic Church, Moncton, New Brunswick (CCCD)
– 1971-72: “Pastorale diocesaine vocations” 334 Cameron St. Moncton, NB (in charge of vocations for the diocese) (CCCD)
1968-1970: Pastor, St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church (CV)
– cathechetical studies in Quebec (CV)
– 1968-69: superior, Centre Etudiant Diocese Pie X – 96 Norwood Ave., Moncton, NB (CCCD)
– 1967: “oeuvres de vocations et enseignement cathechistique” – vocations and catechesis (CCCD)
1967-1968: Sunny Brae (M and CV)
1955-1967: assisting at Moncton Cathedral (M and CV)
– in charge of vocations (CV)
09 April 1955: ORDAINED
– attended St. C de Marie Seminary in Halifax, Nova Scotia (CV) and University St. Joseph and Sulpician College in Montreal (CV)
30 January 1931: Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, son of Fred Breau and Linda Gaudet.
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EXCLUSIVE – A priest sued for sexual assault on a minor
[This is an unofficial translation. Scroll down for the original]
Acadie Nouvelle
05 October 2016
PAUL BREAU (CENTRE) IS CHAPLAIN OF THE PARISH OF OUR LADY OF ACADIA, LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONCTON, FOR 15 YEARS. – “Acadie Nouvelle”: COURTESY
The Archdiocese of Moncton is splashed by another scandal of pedophilia among its ranks. The priest Paul Breau is subject of a civil suit in connection with the alleged sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy when he was assistant priest at St. Joseph Parish in Shediac.
The alleged acts would have occurred from 1984 to 1986. The complainant, whose name has been withheld because he was then aged 13 to 15 years, worked on the landscaping of the grounds at St. Joseph’s Parish, to fulfill a community service sentence.
Paul Breau was responsible for overseeing the work of the juvenile offender and to provide him with water.
According to the notice of action, filed on 29 August, the priest would have taken advantage of his position of authority to assault the alleged victim repeatedly.
These alleged assaults were committed in the rectory of St. Joseph parish property.
According to the Notice of Action, the ideological principles championed by the Church, making the salvation of a individual conditional to his obedience and respect of God’s representatives on Earth – the priests – have allowed Paul Breau to exercise authority on the victim.
Today aged 45, the complainant claims to be subsequently overwhelmed with a feeling of shame and guilt and also have developed depression and anxiety.
He is seeking monetary compensation for traumas and punitive sanctions against the accused, the extent to be determined by the court.
Brian Murphy, a lawyer, former mayor of Moncton and former MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, leads the prosecution.
Father Paul Breau retired last year of parish ministry, after decades of service in the Archdiocese of Moncton. He still continue to minister as Chaplain during the week at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Moncton, in addition to offering his services as a substitute priest, according to the religious organization’s website.
During his priesthood, Paul Breau held various positions in numerous churches in southeast New Brunswick. He was vicar at the Moncton Cathedral (1955-1967), serving in Sunny Brae (1967-1968), pastor of St. Ignatius (1968-1970), Christ the King and vicar forane in Moncton (1981 to 1990) and assistant priest at St. Joseph (Shediac, 1981-1990) and St-Anselme (Dieppe, 1990 to 2000).
The man was also assistant priest and chaplain of Notre-Dame d’Acadie (2000 to 2015), located on the campus of the Université de Moncton.
This is where his 60th anniversary of priesthood was celebrated on May 3, 2015. His contribution has been highlighted by the celebration of Mass by the Archbishop of Moncton, Valéry Vienneau, followed by a tribute on behalf of the Université de Moncton delivered by the Director of Student and International Affairs at the time, Marie-Linda Lord.
L’Acadie Nouvelle attempted to get a statement from the Acadian university in response to the accusations against the former priest of the Moncton campus, but our request was ignored.
Lawsuits piling
The notice of lawsuit filed against Paul Breau is the latest addition to a series of criminal and civil prosecutions against the Archdiocese of Moncton and other priests in recent years.
The former priest Lévi Noël pleaded guilty in 2009 to 22 counts of gross indecency and indecent assault for acts ranging from 1958 to 1981, involving 18 boys aged 8 to 16 years.
Former priest Charles Picot, Bathurst, was facing his fourth trial for sexual acts on minors, when he died March 31, 2016. The alleged facts staggered from 1980 to 1987.
Alleged victims of Father Camille Léger came forward in 2013 to launch civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Moncton. Seven males aged 45-73 claim to have been sexually abused by the man of God, from 1953 to mid 1980.
Lawyer Michel Bastarache, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, was hired by the diocese in 2010 as a mediator to negotiate compensation to alleged victims of Camille Léger, in exchange for a settlement.
Father Yvon Arsenault, a former priest aged 75, will appear in Court of Queen’s Bench judge alone, on October 24, to face charges of a sexual nature involving children, brought in December 2013.
The man of faith is facing 17 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency for acts that allegedly occurred between 1971 and 1980 in the communities of Shediac, Collette and Rosaireville. There were seven victims, all aged under 18 at the time.
The Archdiocese of Moncton issued a press release in 2013 stating that Yvon Arsenault had been removed from all official functions because of the allegations against him.
L’Acadie Nouvelle has attempted to learn whether the same precaution will be taken from Paul Breau, but no one responded to our request for an interview.
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EXCLUSIF – Un prêtre poursuivi pour agression sexuelle sur un mineur
Acadie Nouvelle
Paul Breau (centre) a été aumônier de la paroisse Notre-Dame d’Acadie, située sur le campus de l’Université de Moncton, pendant 15 ans. – Acadie Nouvelle : Gracieuseté
L’Archidiocèse de Moncton est éclaboussé par un autre scandale de pédophilie parmi ses rangs. Le prêtre Paul Breau est visé par une poursuite au civil en lien avec des agressions sexuelles alléguées sur un adolescent de 13 ans, alors qu’il était prêtre-assistant à la paroisse St. Joseph de Shediac.
Les faits reprochés se seraient produits de 1984 à 1986. Le plaignant, dont le nom a été gommé parce qu’il était alors âgé de 13 à 15 ans, effectuait de l’aménagement paysager sur les terrains de la paroisse St. Joseph, afin de s’acquitter d’une peine de travaux communautaires.
Paul Breau était responsable de superviser les efforts du délinquant juvénile et de l’approvisionner en eau.
Toujours selon l’avis de poursuite, déposée le 29 août, le prêtre aurait profité de sa position d’autorité pour agresser la victime alléguée à plusieurs reprises.
Ces agressions alléguées auraient été commises dans le presbytère, propriété de la paroisse St. Joseph.
Selon l’avis de poursuite, les principes idéologiques véhiculés par l’Église, rendant le salut d’un individu conditionnel à son obéissance et respect des représentants de Dieu sur Terre – les prêtres -, ont permis à Paul Breau d’exercer son autorité sur la victime.
Aujourd’hui âgé de 45 ans, le plaignant affirme être depuis accablé d’un sentiment et de honte et de culpabilité, en plus d’avoir développé une dépression et de l’anxiété.
Il demande une compensions pécuniaire pour ses traumatismes et des sanctions punitives exemplaires à l’endroit de l’accusé, dont la teneur sera déterminée par la cour.
La poursuite est pilotée par Brian Murphy, avocat, ancien maire de Moncton et ancien député de Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe.
Le père Paul Breau s’est retiré l’an dernier du ministère paroissial, après des décennies de service à l’archidiocèse de Moncton. Il continuerait toujours d’exercer un ministère comme aumônier en semaine à la Maison-Mère des Religieuses Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur à Moncton, en plus d’offrir ses services comme prêtre remplaçant, selon le site web de l’organisme religieux.
Au cours de sa prêtrise, Paul Breau a occupé différentes fonctions au sein de multiples églises du sud-est du Nouveau-Brunswick. Il a été vicaire à la Cathédrale de Moncton (1955 à 1967), desservant à Sunny Brae (1967 à 1968), curé à Saint-Ignace (1968 à 1970), Christ-Roi et vicaire-forain à Moncton (1981 à 1990) et prêtre-assistant à St-Joseph (Shediac, 1981 à 1990) et St-Anselme (Dieppe, 1990 à 2000).
L’homme était également prêtre-assistant puis aumônier de la paroisse Notre-Dame d’Acadie (2000 à 2015), située sur le campus de l’Université de Moncton.
C’est justement là, le 3 mai 2015, où son 60e anniversaire de sacerdoce a été fêté. Sa contribution a été soulignée par la célébration de la messe par l’archevêque de de Moncton, Valéry Vienneau, suivie d’un hommage au nom de l’Université de Moncton livré par la directrice aux affaires étudiantes et internationales de l’époque, Marie-Linda Lord.
L’Acadie Nouvelle a tenté d’obtenir une réaction de l’université acadienne à la poursuite qui pèse contre l’ancien prêtre de son campus de Moncton, mais notre demande est restée lettre morte.
Des poursuites qui s’empilent
L’avis de poursuite déposée contre Paul Breau n’est que le dernier venu d’une série de poursuites criminelles et civiles entamées contre l’Archidiocèse de Moncton et d’autres prêtres depuis les dernières années.
L’ancien curé Lévi Noël a reconnu sa culpabilité en 2009 à 22 accusations de grossière indécence et d’attentats à la pudeur, pour des faits s’étalant de 1958 à 1981, sur 18 garçons âgés de 8 à 16 ans.
L’ex-prêtre Charles Picot, de Bathurst, subissait son quatrième procès pour des actes à caractère sexuel sur des mineurs, lorsqu’il est décédé le 31 mars 2016. Les faits allégués se seraient échelonnés de 1980 à 1987.
Des victimes présumées du père Camille Léger sont sorties de l’ombre en 2013, pour entamer une poursuite civile contre l’Archidiocèse de Moncton. Sept hommes âgés de 45 à 73 affirment avoir été victimes de sévices sexuels de l’homme de Dieu, entre 1953 jusqu’au milieu des 1980.
L’avocat Michel Bastarache, ancien juge à la Cour suprême du Canada, a été embauché par le diocèse en 2010 comme médiateur pour négocier des indemnités aux victimes présumées de Camille Léger, en échange d’un règlement à l’amiable.
Le père Yvon Arsenault, un ancien curé âgé de 75 ans, doit se présenter en Cour du banc de la reine devant juge seul, le 24 octobre, pour répondre à des accusations de nature sexuelle impliquant des enfants, déposées en décembre 2013.
L’homme de foi fait face à 17 accusations d’atteinte à la pudeur et de grossière indécence pour des actes qui se seraient produites entre 1971 et 1980, dans les communautés de Shediac, Collette et Rosaireville. Il aurait fait sept victimes, toutes âgées de moins de 18 ans à l’époque.
L’Archidiocèse de Moncton avait publié un communiqué de presse en 2013 indiquant qu’Yvon Arsenault avait été retiré de toute fonction en raison des allégations qui pèsent contre lui.
L’Acadie Nouvelle a tenté de savoir si la même précaution sera prise auprès de Paul Breau, mais personne n’a donné suite à notre demande d’entrevue.
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