Priest, Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario. Ordained 1983. Charged 1993. Charges withdrawn. Currently not functioning as a priest – was removed from ministry in 2008 for reasons which are not totally clear, but seem to relate to parish finances and his relationship with a young man. Sometime in 2009 or ealry 2010 Father Hart initiated legal proceedings against the Kingston Archdiocese re his dismissal – proceedings stayed in 2010.
_________________________
Archbishops of Kingston Archdiocese from time Father Hart was in the seminary to present: Joseph Lawrence Wilhelm (14 December 1966 – 12 March 1982); Francis John Spence (24 April 1982 – 27 April 2002); Anthony Giroux Meagher (27 April 2002 – 14 January 2007); Brendan Michael O’Brien (01 Jun 2007 – )
____________________________
22 November 2011: Hart v. Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Kingston, in Canada, 2011 ONCA 728 (Ontario Court of Appeal dismisses Father Brian Hart’s appeal of the stay on his wrongful dismissal suit against the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario)
31 August 2010: Hart v. Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Kingston, in Canada, 2010 ONSC 4709 (CanLII) (Action by Father Brian Hart against the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario for wrongful dismissal stayed).
____________________________
The following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Directories (CCCD) of that date, media (M) and legal documents (L)
2010, 2011: address for the Kingston Diocesan Centre (CCCD)
31 August 2010: proceedings stayed (L)
civil proceedings initiated by Hart against the Archdiocese re his removal from ministry.
02 June 2008: Archbishop Brendan O’Brien issued a decree removing Father Hart as pastor
lawsuit launched by the young man alleging, amongst other things, sexual assault by Hart. The proceeding was abandoned by the plaintiff (L)
March 2008: advised by Archbishp O’Brien that first step had taken to remove him as pastor
July 2007: Archbishop Brendan O’Brien
May 2007: faculties suspended by Ftaher Proce until such time as Father Hart received treatment
January 2007: Archbishop Meager died. Father Brian Price tomporary administrator.
late 2006?: to Southdown for assessment. Father Hart was deemed to be a ‘serious risk’ and it was recommended he undergo a four to six month residential treatment before being returned to ministry. (Question: serious risk for what?)
July 2006: placed in administrative leave for his failure to terminate the relationship with the young man (L) (Meagher)
2006: parishioners raise concerns re Hart’s association with a young man. Ordered by Archbishop Meagher not to be around the young man and not to enter into business relationship with him (L)
13 December 2004: Ordered by Archbishop Meager to resign as officer and director of business organizations (L)
2004-2005: concerns re parish funds drawn on parish funds to businesses in which he was involved (L)
2004: Pastor, St. Gregory the Great, Picton, Ontario, and St. Francis of Rome in Wellington, Ontario (L)
2002, 2000, 1999, 1998: Pastor, Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary, Erinsville, Ontario. P.O. Box 239, Tamworth, Ontario 613-379-2905 (CCCD)
1997, 1996: address for St. John the Baptist RC Church, Perth, Ontario (Pastor Father J. P. Carty) (CCCD)
1995, 1994: 25 Burnham Rd., Ottawa, Ontario (in the vicinity of St. Paul University, Ottawa (CCCD)
1993, 1992: Pastor, St. Ann RC Church, Merrickville (CCCD)
April 1993: CHARGES WITHDRAWN. According to media the Crown said he could not establish proof in several elements of the case.
September 1992: charges laid
1991: Pastor, St. Ann RC Church, Merrickville
1985-86: St. Francis de Sales RC Church, Smith Falls, Ontario (Pastor Father R.J. Shannon) (CCCD)
1983: ORDAINED (CCCD)
February-My 1983: Sex abuse charges laid in ’93 relate to allegations of sex abuse of an altar boy from St. Michael’s RC Church in Trenton. There is some confusion in media accounts re the allegations – it seems the alleged abuse transpired before Hart’s ordination, either at St. Peter’s Seminary in London between February and May 1983 or at St. Michael’s in Belleville, Ontario.
______________________________
3 cheers for Hart
Catholic New Times
05 October 2003
by Valerie Bannert
Thank you for your article: Hart hears the cosmic heart: the green ministry of Brian Hart. (CNT; Sept.7, 2003).
Brian Hart is a man after my own heart and so are you, Ted Schmidt, for drawing to the readers’ attention a prophetic observation concerning effective leadership in the church.
This article introduces a priest from the rural area of Erinsville, a small village north of Napanee, ON. A scenario is presented wherein this parish priest has the vision to see beyond the usual parish boundaries into involvement in the whole world. It is a case of eco-centric expanding androcentric: involvement in the whole, real world out there. And isn’t that where it’s at? Or as Hart puts it: “…it is only from the edge that new life emerges.”
Hart, along with other prophetic visionaries, has the developing realization that “outside of the world there is no salvation” or as Theodore Roszak says: “The fate of the earth find the fate of the human person is the same.” Brian Hart has brought a great splash of colour to our greying world of leadership in the RC Church. It says: “Don’t just kneel there. Do something!”
I resonate with this approach to ministry because it is something that we, a group of members from the Eramosa Eden Retreat Centre in Eden Mills, Ont., have been working on for some time. This is the development of an alternative ministry in the Christian body. This ministry, as we envision it, is much broader in scope than the traditional structures usually embrace. It has as a basic part of its foundation the “integrity of the web of life … the redemption of creation.”
For more information visit us at www.eramosaeden.org.
Valerie Bannert
Rockwood, Ont.
___________________________________
CRIME; Sex assault charges against priest dropped
The Ottawa Citizen
10 April 1993
Sexual assault charges against Merrickville priest Brian Hart have been dropped, clearing the way for a return to the pulpit.
Hart, 38, was suspended from his post at St. Anne’s Church in Merrickville last September. He was accused of sexually assaulting an altar boy at St. Michael’s Church in Belleville nine years ago. Police said the alleged victim was 16 at the time.
Belleville Crown Attorney James Cavanagh said the crown could not establish proof in several elements of the case.
Msgr. Thomas Raby confirmed from Hart will return to his old parish in the village 60 km southwest of Ottawa.
___________________________________
Canadian Press
April 8, 1993 11.51 EST
MERRICKVILLE, Ont. (CP)
Sexual assault charges against the Roman Catholic priest of this tiny village have been dropped, clearing the way for his return to the pulpit after a seven-month absence.
Father Brian Hart, 38, was accused last September of sexually assaulting an altar boy in the Lake Ontario city of Belleville nine years ago.
Police said the alleged victim was 16 at the time and an altar boy at St. Michael’s Church when Hart was there studying for the priesthood.
“The charges were withdrawn,” a spokesman for the Belleville Crown attorney’s office said today.
The Crown lawyer who prosecuted the case was unavailable to explain why the charges were dropped.
Hart had been suspended from his post at St. Anne’s Church in Merrickville, about 60 kilometres southwest of Ottawa, pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
Msgr. Thomas Raby said from Kingston that Hart — who has been taking a course in Ottawa — will return to his old parish in this village of 950 people.
“I’m not sure just when, but he will be back,” Raby said.
_____________________________________
Priest to stand trial for sexual assault
The Ottawa Citizen
28 October 1992
A Merrickville priest will stand trial on a charge of sexually assaulting an altar boy in Belleville nine years ago.
Belleville police Insp. Garnet Goodwin said the victim, who was 16 at the time, complained that a student for the priesthood assaulted him at St. Michael’s seminary between February and May 1983.
The trial of Rev. Brian Hart, 38, is to start in Belleville court on April 7. Hart is a priest at St. Ann’s Church in Merrickville, 75 kilometers south of Ottawa.
Rev. Joseph Lynch, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, which includes Merrickville, said Hart will not perform any pastoral duties at St. Ann’s until the matter is resolved.
______________________________
Merrickville priest faces sex charge
The Ottawa Citizen
05 September 1992.
A Merrickville priest is charged with sexually assaulting an altar boy in Belleville nine years ago.
Belleville police Insp. Garnet Goodwin said the victim, who was 16 at the time, said a student for the priesthood assaulted him at St. Michael’s Seminary between February and May 1983.
Rev. Brian Hart, 38, is to appear in court Oct. 1. Hart is a priest at St. Ann’s Church in Merrickville, 75 kilometres south of Ottawa.
Rev. Joseph Lynch, chancellor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston, which includes Merrickville, said Hart will not perform any pastoral duties at St. Ann’s until the matter is resolved.