The Saskatoon Star Phoenix
By Jason Warick, The Star Phoenix
08 February 2012
An 89-year-old priest has been charged with sexually assaulting two boys more than 50 years ago at a Saskatoon Catholic boys’ school.
Rev. Hodgson Marshall faces two counts of indecent assault stemming from alleged incidents involving two 14-year-old boys at St. Paul’s High School in downtown Saskatoon in 1959 and 1960.
In interviews with The StarPhoenix on Tuesday, both complainants said they were relieved Marshall had been charged.
“I feel pretty good,” said one man, now 66 years old. “We said very emphatically we wanted charges pressed. We were let down at school – we didn’t want to be let down again.”
The other complainant said he was “quite pleased” to hear the news.
“Isn’t that something?” said the second man, also 66.
Attempts to contact Marshall on Tuesday through his Ontario lawyer and Marshall’s religious order, the Congregation of St. Basil, proved unsuccessful.
A Basilian official expressed “deep shame” upon learning of the charges, while Saskatoon Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Bolen’s reaction was “profound sadness.”
The second complainant said the charges partially restored his “faith” that justice will be done. He remains suspicious of those who he believes sheltered Marshall and transferred the priest to schools in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean. Marshall is serving a two year sentence in Ontario for more than a dozen assaults spanning 30 years.
“Many people were complicit in this. You will never tell me otherwise,” the complainant said.
Both complainants praised the perseverance of Det. Sgt. Carolyn Hlady of the Saskatoon Police Service’s personal violence section. They said she worked hard to collect evidence and convince Crown prosecutors to take the case. Hlady arranged for an Ontario police officer to question Marshall about the Saskatoon allegations during an interview on his Ontario matters.
Saskatoon police spokesperson Const. Tisha Rae Stonehouse said police treat all abuse complaints seriously, regardless of the date of the alleged offence.
Stonehouse said a 52-year gap “can pose some challenges, (but) there was enough information to follow through with charges.”
She said officers from different jurisdictions often work together to interview suspects or conduct other police work.
“It’s a partnership across the board. Obtaining information from the accused certainly is relevant and valid for the investigation,” she said.
Allegations against Marshall cover the period from 1952 to 1985 at schools in Saskatoon, Toronto, Windsor and Sudbury. From the late-1950s until the early ’60s, he taught at St. Paul’s High School in Saskatoon.
According to the complainants, as well as other former students, Marshall’s basement office contained a one-way mirror, allowing him to see into the boys’ change room and showers.
The complainants allege Marshall fondled boys in his office, at the hospital or in other locations under the pretence of play or inspecting their various muscles.
After seeing news reports last summer of Marshall’s Ontario convictions, four of the former students went public with allegations of abuse in a series of Star Phoenix articles. One said he revealed the abuse to another priest during the sacrament of confession. At least two of them said they would be filing complaints with police.
Both the Basilians and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon issued statements Tuesday expressing sadness for anyone who was victimized by Marshall. Both said there was no indication Marshall was abusing boys until the first allegations went public in the mid-1990s. At that time, he was promptly removed from service.
“In all such cases, our first concern is for the suffering of those who have been abused,” said Bolen.
“Inappropriate conduct or criminal behaviour of any kind is neither condoned nor tolerated … zero tolerance of any questionable conduct is the norm and standard set forth in diocesan policy.”
Rev. Timothy Scott, general councillor and spokesperson for the Basilians, said abuse is “a violation of our religious vows and are grievously sinful. We apologize unreservedly to any persons who have been harmed by Father Marshall, to their families and associates. This should never have happened.”
Marshall is still considered a priest and will be allowed to keep the title of “Father.” He will be housed and fed by the Basilians if he is released from prison.
Marshall was due to have a parole hearing in mid-January, but that’s now been delayed until March. A spokesperson for the National Parole Board said the reason for the delay could not be provided.
The Saskatchewan Crown prosecutor’s office is arranging for Marshall to make an Ontario court appearance on the Saskatoon charges.
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