ctvottawa.ca
Updated: Thu May. 05 2011 6:01:43 PM
There’s shock among parishioners at a Catholic Church in Ottawa Thursday after learning an elderly priest has a prior conviction of sexually abusing young girls.
Father Jack McCann spent 10 months in jail for offences he committed in B.C. in the 1970s.
He now lives in Ottawa where he’s presided over masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the city’s east end.
The congregation loves him. But they weren’t aware of his past until just recently.
“Very, very surprised. You must have the wrong priest,” parishioner Darlene Rodda told CTV Ottawa.
Even the parish priest who works with McCann wasn’t aware of his past. He just learned about McCann’s conviction a few days ago after CTV started making phone calls.
“I was horrified to find out that I didn’t have any knowledge of that and was never told about his background at all,” said Father Stephen Liang.
McCann served as a priest in New Westminster, B.C. in the late 1970s. In 1992, he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two young girls — and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.
CTV Ottawa tried to speak to McCann, but he didn’t want to talk.
Although he’s served time for his crime, sexual abuse survivors say he should not be allowed to continue work with the Church.
“He should be defrocked. If he were in a daycare setting and was convicted of sexually abusing kids, no one would consider returning him to that daycare setting,” said Rob Talach, a lawyer for sexual abuse survivors.
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Ottawa told CTV that McCann is not in active ministry and cannot celebrate mass without the supervision of other priests or bishops.
However, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.
“Yes, he was saying mass on his own,” Liang told CTV Ottawa.
The Archdiocese says it’s dealing with the issue and Liang has been told that McCann won’t be allowed to say any future masses.
The Church plans to hold a special prayer session on Saturday morning to tell parishioners that McCann has withdrawn from the parish for personal reasons.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr
____________________________
N. Robinson
It is a shame on the catholic church that this, or any other priest, who is guilty of sex crimes is allowed to remain a priest.
I am a catholic and I don’t think this should be tollerated.
__________________________
Scandalized in Ottawa
There is no excuse for this. Bishop Prendergast & Msgr Beech, you both know better than to allow a convicted child molester to return to active ministry, as is clearly the case here. Also inexcusable, is the fact that the pastor of Our Lady of Mt Carmel apparently was not informed of the situation.
_________________________
Christine Crawford
Thank God for journalists who keep the community informed about things of this nature! While the priest, in this case, has served his time and that is what is required by law, I believe it is the duty of the Arch-bishop of the city he chooses to live in to keep tight control on his activities! What is shocking will be the people who will defend the behaviour of the church. Is this a result of the shortage of men for the priesthood? As a victom of childhood sexual abuse – and a former RC I thank you for making this public knowledge and hopefully a wake up to the Arch-bishop and his staff to lead with great caution the people who continue to see this church as important to their spiritual wellbeing!
___________________________________
Ian Ottawa
Lies of the Catholic Church. This is unacceptable and the Church must be seen for what it is, a safe haven for Homosexuals and Pedophiles. This is why they don’t want woman priests or married priests. It cuts down on their membership numbers. I converted to Catholicism and now I really have my doubts about the leaderships accountability for these atrocious acts of sexual deviances. The Church as it is must be revamped. I believe in God but I have my doubts about his Shepherds.
_____________________________________
Devon
What is this sickness that seems to run rampant in the Catholic church? This is why I stopped going to church a long time ago.
_______________________________________
jean-guy
Just why are we finding out of this now,this man should never had been aloud back in a church.Or any thing that gives him access to our young children.McCANN SHOULD BE RETURNED TO PRISON FOR BREACH OF PROBATION.Or failing to devulge his past.The Archdiocese on the other hand,should be flodged as well for not protecting the parishioners.
________________________________________
Diane
Can’t you guys report on anything else for a change? I’m sure there must be some good news out there somewhere instead of always taking down the church . . .
__________________________________
Gena
What worries me is that ths man is not only in the church but also has connection to 2 catholic elementary schools in our community…maybe someone should look in to this as well…why wasnt he registered as a sex offender?
___________________________________
not surprised
This is why I will never have anything to do with the catholic church ever again.
The fact of the matter is the catholic church supports pedophiles and abuse of children. Its one thing to turn a blind eye but to actively support pedophiles is unaccepatable, putting it lightly. This story and other recent events (ie Lahey) only solidify my hatred of the church I once loved.
______________________________________
DD
My mom is a social worker and we volunteered with teens who had been abused and it DUMBFOUNDED me how many of them were revictimized by their churches…and I’m not talking about just Catholic churches either. One girl was told by her minister she was not to go to the police – it would be dealt with internally. By that they meant her abuser lost his deacon privileges but she did have to sit with him every week until she learned forgiveness. Another church had a convicted pedophile working on the daycare…while there were kids in it. Yet another minister brought in one of his flock who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting his daughter for years after he got out of prison. Had him sleeping in the same house as his own daughters. His reason? God has forgiven him – so must we all. Never thought once to come to the victim’s home and offer her support though. The Catholic church is not the only institution that advocates child abuse. (Advocates is the appropriate word for people who don’t even attempt to PREVENT) Many churches of many denominations do it. I’m a devout Christian but I will never step foot in a church ever again because of the disgust I’ve felt being in them and knowing what they are a party to. They should all be ashamed of their behaviour and clean up their ministries.
_______________________________
Mark
Unfortunately such matters, priests still being in ministry after credible allegations and/or convictions is not all that uncommon. The Catholic church is not able to police itself in these matters and the fact they failed to even to the pastor or others around him proves this point, how can he be “supervised” if those around him are totally unaware.
When will the church stop putting our children at risk of predatory clergy? Unfortunately it does not appear that will happen anytime soon, regardless of what they tell the public.
___________________________________
Dave
All the more proof that Priests should be able to be married. That is the normal in society. How can you “Go forth and multiply” if you are not married? The Catholic Church is in complete shambles. Look at what has happened in Ottawa this year – this story, Fr. Joe, Fr. Allen (my son’s religion teacher), Bishop Lahey, Fr. Crampton’s suicide and on and on. I rest my case.
__________________________________________
John
I do not understand why a rapist or a child molester only get a few months in jail. They always do it again.
_________________________________________
natalia
Unbelievalbe! The catholic church never ceases to amaze me! The archdiocese better act faster on this one!
_____________________________________________