Leonard Patrick Paradis
Oblate priest. Ordained 16 July 1977. GUILTY plea December 1989 – three years probation. Spent time at Emmanuel Convalescent Foundation in Aurora, Ontario, now known as Southdown.
The following information is drawn from the 1999 Oblate Directory (OD), Canadian Catholic Directories (CCCD) of that date which I have on hand, and media (M)
2010: not listed
2002: Springhurst Ave., Ottawa (Oblate residence)
civil suit settled for undisclosed amount
1999, 1998: Treasurer, Manitoba Province (of Oblates) (OD)
199o-1999 -?: Provincial Treasurer (OD)
1999, 1998: Springhurst Ave., Ottawa (Oblate residence) (CCCD)
1997, 1996: Springhurst Ave., Ottawa (Oblate residence) (CCCD)
saying Masses at St. Joseph’s RC Church, Ottawa with knowledge of his superior, Father Chris Rushton omi (Pastor at St. Joseph’s – Father Robert Smith omi)
1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991: 175 Stewart St., Ottawa (Oblate residence) (CCCD)
1997: Jacki Leroux (Ottawa Sun) discovered Paradis was offering Masses at St. Joseph’s RC Churchin Ottawa, Ontario. His superior, Father Chris Rushton omi, was aware.
1989-1990: Study/Renewal, Toronto, Ontario (OD)
1989-90: Lansdowne House, Ontario (OD)
1984-1986: study (where unknown) (OD)
1985-86: Sheshatshits (North West River), Labrador, Newfoundland (CCCD) (Pastor at Our Lady of Snows in Sheshatshits listed as Father James Roche omi)
1977-84: Happy Valley, Labrador, Newfoundland (OD)
04 February 1948: DOB (OD)
_______________________
19 March 2011: No big deal?
04 February 2011: Troubling
20 November 2010: Recycling
_______________________
Church Settles Sex Abuse Cases with Labrador Innu
CBC News
06 April 2006
The Roman Catholic church has settled three more civil lawsuits alleging sexual exploitation of Innu boys by clergy in Labrador.
The lawsuits, which were rooted in incidents dating back as far as the 1970s, were settled this winter.
Two cases involved two Natuashish men who claimed they were sexually abused by a lay member of the Oblate order in the 1980s.
Gordon Paul Baynham was charged with three counts of sexual assault in 1990, but the provincial government refused to pay the cost of his extradition from the U.S.
Justice officials argued a conviction would likely have resulted only in a suspended sentence or a short prison term.
The civil suit against Baynham and the Labrador City-Schefferville diocese was settled for an undisclosed amount.
In the third case, an Innu man recently reached a settlement in a case alleging sexual assaults by Leonard Paradis, a former Oblate priest who was sentenced to three years’ probation for gross indecency.
Paradis began working in the Innu community of Sheshatshiu, in central Labrador, in the 1970s.
The Catholic church has now settled nine of 27 civil suits for sexual abuse in Innu communities.
Simeon Tshakapesh, the former chief of Natuashish, is one of the two men who allege that Baynham molested them in Davis Inlet, the Innu community which was resettled in 2002.
Tshakapesh said now that the civil case is over, he wants to put the matter behind him.
However, he added that he is still upset that Baynham never faced charges in a criminal court.
_______________________
Canadian Press
December 15, 1989 15.45 EST
GOOSE BAY, Nfld. (CP)
A Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to four charges of gross indecency against teenage boys was sentenced to three years’ probation and continuation of treatment Friday.
Judge James Igloliorte also ruled that Rev. Leonard Patrick Paradis, 41, not be placed in isolated parishes and or be allowed to be alone in the company of anyone under 18 years of age.
The charges stemmed from allegations the priest fondled Innu boys while they slept. The boys were in his custody at the time.
The judge said the priest has received insightful and professional assistance from the Emmanuel Convalescent Foundation in Aurora, Ont.
“This is cold comfort for the victims of this case and the Innu have characteristically not attacked or condemned a fellow human,” added Igloliorte.
However, the judge added, “a great deal of time has passed for circumstances which are at the lower end of the scale of sexual offences, even for today.”
The priest fondled the boys’ sexual organs while they slept but did not go further when they awoke. The boys were 14 to 17 years old at the time.
“I find it difficult to justify a jail term for this kind of fondling incident,” said the judge.
Paradis was priest to the Innu from 1977 to 1980.
Evidence presented before the judge showed the incidents were brought to the attention of then-Bishop Peter Sutton. Sutton told police the matter was investigated and nothing was done.