A former Ottawa priest convicted of molesting three boys more than 40 years ago turned to face his victims and say, for the first time, that he was sorry for what he did, but not before two of them walked out of the courtroom.
Jacques Faucher — who turned 80 last week — appeared to deliver an offhand and long-winded apology at his sentencing hearing Tuesday that acknowledged the “scandal” he caused within the Catholic Church.
The former priest was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on boys aged nine to 13 from the former Notre-Dame-des-Anges parish near Tunney’s Pasture. The crimes were committed from 1969 to 1974.
The victims all told a similar story: Faucher would invite the boys to sit on his knee in private to pray or to watch hockey. Court heard that he admitted to police that he had been sexually excited in these encounters, and that he sometimes ejaculated in his pants.
“I ask for forgiveness,” said Faucher in French, facing the sole victim who chose to hear the apology.
“My actions toward them were inappropriate as an adult toward a child, especially as a priest to an altar boy. This is the time that I can say, publicly, that I regret those inappropriate actions. I regret them sincerely.”
He held a sheet of lined paper in his hands as he delivered his 10-minute apology, but he appeared to speak off-the-cuff throughout most of it, turning back part way through to face Judge Pierre Roger.
His speech, though, took a surprise turn when he accused the media, including the creators of the award-winning film Spotlight, of profiting off sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.
“I have to say — and I insist on this — for several years a number of priests have been the subject of similar accusations. They were condemned under the law. Naturally, there’s money to be made in this. A movie was made that won Oscar of the year in Hollywood,” he said.
“Anyways, this is part of the human story. But I regret with all my heart the scandal that I caused in the Catholic community in our region.”
A series of special reports published by the Sun last spring exposed secrets of Ottawa’s clergy sex abuse scandal dating back to the mid-1980s.
In one of those reports, Faucher was named in a list of priests from the region who have been criminally charged for sexual offences.
“I deplore certain media that made hay, to be polite, with this story. Not just mine. A newspaper that I won’t name, published three big pages of coverage,” Faucher said Tuesday.
“Media are just looking to sell newspapers. They’re competing with the Internet. That’s the excuse that we hear most often.
“Public commentary, in my opinion, is not always up to par with our expectations for ethical and professional standards.”
When he sat down, the other two victims returned to the courtroom.
Crown prosecutor John Ramsay asked the judge to sentence Faucher to 18 months in jail, followed by three years of probation. He also requested a DNA order, and asked that Faucher avoid public parks or swimming pools where people under the age of 16 are expected to be present, and that he be a registered sex offender.
Defence lawyer Denis Cadieux is asking for a conditional sentence.
Faucher will be sentenced at a later date.
‘This ate at me inside like a vile cancer’: Court hears victim impact statements
One of the victims wrote in a victim impact statement about the hatred and shame that kept him from opening up about the abuse to his family and friends.
“This ate at me inside like a vile cancer eating away at my soul very slowly,” said Ramsay, who read the statement to the court on the victim’s behalf.
The victim, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, said he turned to alcohol to cope with his emotions, which ultimately hindered his performance at work, causing him to leave his management position.
“School, college, and work were all affected in the same manner. Feeling alone within a group, having random thoughts of physical revenge against Faucher, the recurring anger, and, often crying or feeling lonely whether I was with someone or not.”
Another victim expressed himself through a poem, while another said the childhood trauma made him a private person who struggles to share his feelings with others.
“I think I would rather keep the accused from knowing my most personal feelings, about this incident, or as a result of it,” he wrote, “as I do not want him to feel that he has any control over me, or impact on me as he might have once had.”
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Jacques Faucher, shown in 2013, was convicted on charges of gross indecency and indecent assault on altar boys. JULIE OLIVER / OTTAWA CITIZEN
A former Ottawa priest convicted of molesting three boys more than 40 years ago turned to face his victims and say, for the first time, that he was sorry for what he did, but not before two of them walked out of the courtroom.
Jacques Faucher — who turned 80 last week — appeared to deliver an offhand and long-winded apology at his sentencing hearing Tuesday that acknowledged the “scandal” he caused within the Catholic Church.
The former priest was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and gross indecency on boys aged nine to 13 from the former Notre-Dame-des-Anges parish near Tunney’s Pasture. The crimes were committed from 1969 to 1974.
The victims all told a similar story: Faucher would invite the boys to sit on his knee in private to pray or to watch hockey. Court heard that he admitted to police that he had been sexually excited in these encounters, and that he sometimes ejaculated in his pants.
“I ask for forgiveness,” said Faucher in French, facing the sole victim who chose to hear the apology.
“My actions toward them were inappropriate as an adult toward a child, especially as a priest to an altar boy. This is the first time that I can say, publicly, that I regret those inappropriate actions. I regret them sincerely.”
He held a sheet of lined paper in his hands as he delivered his 10-minute apology, but he appeared to speak off-the-cuff throughout most of it, turning back part way through to face Judge Pierre Roger.
His speech, though, took a surprise turn when he accused the media, including the creators of the award-winning film Spotlight, of profiting off sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.
“I have to say — and I insist on this — for several years a number of priests have been the subject of similar accusations. They were condemned under the law. Naturally, there’s money to be made in this. A movie was made that won Oscar of the year in Hollywood,” he said.
“Anyways, this is part of the human story. But I regret with all my heart the scandal that I caused in the Catholic community in our region.”
A series of special reports published by the Citizen last spring exposed secrets of Ottawa’s clergy sex abuse scandal dating back to the mid-1980s.
In one of those reports, Faucher was named in a list of priests from the region who have been criminally charged for sexual offences.
“I deplore certain media that made hay, to be polite, with this story. Not just mine. A newspaper that I won’t name, published three big pages of coverage,” Faucher said Tuesday, indirectly characterizing the Citizen as a “yellow newspaper.”
“Media are just looking to sell newspapers. They’re competing with the Internet. That’s the excuse that we hear most often.
“Public commentary, in my opinion, is not always up to par with our expectations for ethical and professional standards.”
When he sat down, the other two victims returned to the courtroom.
Crown prosecutor John Ramsay asked the judge to sentence Faucher to 18 months in jail, followed by three years of probation. He also requested a DNA order, and asked that Faucher avoid public parks or swimming pools where people under the age of 16 are expected to be present, and that he be a registered sex offender.
Defence lawyer Denis Cadieux is asking for a conditional sentence.
Faucher will be sentenced at a later date.
‘This ate at me inside like a vile cancer’: Court hears victim impact statements
One of the victims wrote in a victim impact statement about the hatred and shame that kept him from opening up about the abuse to his family and friends.
“This ate at me inside like a vile cancer eating away at my soul very slowly,” said Ramsay, who read the statement to the court on the victim’s behalf.
The victim, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, said he turned to alcohol to cope with his emotions, which ultimately hindered his performance at work, causing him to leave his management position.
“School, college, and work were all affected in the same manner. Feeling alone within a group, having random thoughts of physical revenge against Faucher, the recurring anger, and, often crying or feeling lonely whether I was with someone or not.”
Another victim expressed himself through a poem, while another said the childhood trauma made him a private person who struggles to share his feelings with others.
“I think I would rather keep the accused from knowing my most personal feelings, about this incident, or as a result of it,” he wrote, “as I do not want him to feel that he has any control over me, or impact on me as he might have once had.”
If the “good father” is listening, your actions were not “inappropriate” as you repeatedly stated. Your actions were criminal! There is a BIG difference here, papa!
Absolutely pathetic and twisted that you would target the news media. All they are doing is reporting (quite factually) on your sad and twisted life.
The church and the public at large are much further off with you out of the picture, and the church.
You deserve no less than this, you pathetic chameleon! Your bishop must be so proud of you!
You used “the church” and it’s authority given to you, to rape the souls and the bodies of you victims. How dare you blame the news media! Too bad the church couldn’t hide YOUR scandal, eh papa? Mike.