priest Diocese of London, Ontario. Ordained 1948. GUILTY plea 2006 to sex abuse of 47 ages 7 to 15 betweeb 1954 and 1986. Died in jail. Civil trial 2011
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20 April 2011: Reasons for Judgement: K.M.M. v. The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp., 2011 ONSC 2143
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January 2007: died in jail three months into a three year prison sentence
August 2006: pleaded GUILTY to sexual abuse of 47 young girls age 7 to 15 between 1954 and 1986
2000, 1998, 1995: 1623 Elmwood Ave., Belle River, Ontario
1993: 1024 Goyeau St., Windsor, Ontario
1991: address for St. Clement RC Church, McGregor, Ontario (Pastor, Father D.H. Duchene)
1980: St. Ursula, Chathem, Ontario (with Father J.A. Lamermeier
1973-74, 1971-72: Pastor, St. Ursula, Chathem, Ontario
1968-69, 1967: pastor, St. Cecilia RC Church, Port Dover, Ontario
1959: Pastor, St.Thomas Aquinas, Sarnia, Ontario (assisting, Father J. P. Beneteau)
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23 July 2011: Abuse victims struggle with mental health problems
21 July 2011: 22 priests, hundreds of victims: Sex abuse cases haunt church’s London diocese
26 April 2011: Avoid trials, says abuse survivor
21 April 2011: Church forgiven in abuse coverup
02 April 2011: Sylvestre moved to ‘protect faithful’
30 October 2011: Abuse survivors hurt by words
25 March 2011: What the bishop knew
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canada.com
By CanWest News Service April 7, 2007
WINDSOR, Ont. — Four women who were sexually abused by a priest when they were children will receive an undisclosed sum of money in a settlement reached with the diocese of London in southwestern Ontario.
The four are among 59 women who have sued the diocese over the abuse committed by Charles Sylvestre, a convicted sex offender and priest. Sylvestre died in prison in January at the age of 84, only a few months into serving a three-year sentence.
“We are not disclosing the amounts because the women don’t want them known and it complicates future settlements,” said Robert Talach, who is representing 24 of the women.
The four cases settled Thursday were fast-tracked partly because they involve some of the oldest victims, but also because of the fragile health of some of the women, Talach said.
One of the women, Vivian Dobbs, 65, was in Grade 7 when she was molested, Talach said.
“She was in a play Sylvestre had written and as a reward to cast members they went on a picnic with him,” Talach said. “He assaulted her in the water when he offered to teach her how to swim. To this day she’s had difficulty going into the water at beaches. It’s haunted her her whole life.”
Talach said Dobbs returned to her home in British Columbia “a whole new person” after the settlement was reached.
The other complainants who will receive money include another 65-year-old Windsor woman who was abused in 1954, a 56-year old victim who attended St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Sarnia, Ont., and a 44-year-old victim who attended St. Ursula’s in Chatham, Ont.
At least two women reported the sexual abuse to authorities, which resulted in the diocese transferring Sylvestre to another parish, according to a press release issued by the Ledroit Beckett law firm in London.
Bishop Ronald Fabbro said, “money cannot compensate the victims adequately and reconciliation is the goal,” according to a news release on the diocese web site.
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‘Guilty’ 47 Times
Rev. Charles Sylvestre Admits to Decades of Sexual Abuse Involving 47 Girls – Many Still Suffering
London Free Press
04 August 2006
By Jane Sims
Chatham — He wore his priest’s collar to win trust and respect in Roman Catholic parishes across the region.
The collar gave him an exalted place in the communities. The collar, many believed, also meant he was just a step away from God.
Yesterday, Charles Henry Sylvestre, 83, of Belle River, was wearing the collar again — but this time in a criminal court, under the watchful eyes of his 47 sexual abuse victims.
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| Carol Ann Mieras speaks to reporters outside the Chatham courthouse. She is wearing a shirt featuring a photo of herself when she was 11 years old, a time when she was sexually assaulted by Father Charles Sylvestre, a Catholic priest. Photo by DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press |
Balancing himself against the table beside his lawyer, Andrew Bradie of Windsor, Sylvestre stood for 25 minutes as the court clerk read out the 47 counts of indecent assault.
“Guilty,” the 83-year-old said feebly, after each charge was read.
Behind him in the packed courtroom, women dabbed their eyes.
Irene Deschenes of London, who along with 10 others asked the court-ordered publication ban be lifted from their names, smiled, leaned forward and put her hand to her ear to be sure Sylvestre was admitting abusing her.
It was the start of a heartbreaking day in the Ontario Court of Justice, as victim after victim — all women — came forward to have the abuses described.
For most, their lives were irrevocably changed.
The case, Chatham-Kent Crown Attorney Paul Bailey said, is North America’s largest case of non-residential school sex abuse by a Roman Catholic priest.
The case is so large, there was only time to hear from 21 victims yesterday. Justice Bruce Thomas is expected to hear the rest Sept. 22.
The abuse dates as far back as 1952 and extends to 1989 when the victims were between nine and 14. It involved churches in Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham and Pain Court.
Two victims were students at Mount St. Joseph academy in London when Sylvestre was the chaplain in the 1950s.
Twenty-nine of the victims were members of St. Ursula’s parish in Chatham.
All are asking why the abuse was allowed to continue so long.
Bradie said while his client acknowledged the abuses in his guilty pleas, his memories of the events have faded.
Bailey described each abuse at the hands of the priest, and noted many times the victims were made to feel “special” by the priest’s initial attention.
Many said they were “good Catholic girls” who attended church regularly and were raised in devout families.
Many were offered chocolate bars and pop when they sat on the priest’s lap while he groped them and bounced them on his groin.
Many were assaulted after being “chosen” by Sylvestre to volunteer at the rectory or the church to fold bulletins, tidy worship areas, to count the collection.
Some were assaulted on beach day trips Sylvestre organized. Others were groped and fondled in his car.
Some were assaulted during church confession. They were told to stay quiet or they would be punished by God.
Every one was just entering puberty. Some spoke of just “budding.” Every one of them had their breasts fondled.
Sylvestre shoved his hands down the pants of some to fondle their genitals, and some were digitally penetrated.
Two of the women said they were raped by Sylvestre.
Lou Ann Soontiens, of Chatham, a victim who had the publication ban lifted, through Bailey, said she had an abortion at 15 after she was impregnated by the trusted priest after years of abuse.
“I feel he robbed me of my childhood and took it away from me,” her statement read.
“I believe God should have been there for me.”
Bradie told Thomas his client doesn’t admit to any sexual intercourse or penetration but to the other described abuses.
Bailey said only a trial could resolve that and, “with some regret,” the Crown wasn’t prepared to wait any longer to move forward.
The sexual intercourse allegations will be tried at the civil level.
Thomas accepted Bradie’s submission and found Sylvestre guilty based on his other abuses of the women.
Many bravely read their own victim impact statements, often through tears and anger. Others listened to Bailey read their words.
Their stories were personal and emotional. They spoke of lifelong struggles with trust and intimacy, self-esteem problems, rebellious angry pasts, addictions and depression.
Some were suicidal.
Many expressed shame and guilt when their stories weren’t believed.
Some said they thought, “I was a child and I did nothing wrong,” said Joanne Morrison, 46, of White Rock, B.C. “I will not hide behind shame or guilt anymore.”
Only two, who confided in parents and were supported, said they had little if any long-term fallout from the abuse.
The case led to an unprecedented response by the Roman Catholic diocese of London yesterday, with Bishop Ronald Fabbro issuing an apology to the victims and their families for the abuse and “for the failure of the church to protect the victims and their families from Father Sylvestre.”
Fabbro is to preach a mass Sunday at St. Ursula’s church in Chatham where he will formally apologize.
Many of the victims are seeking civil remedies.
Yesterday, London lawyer Barbara Legate filed a lawsuit on behalf of 22 women, naming not only the diocese but school boards, nuns and Sarnia police.
BISHOP APOLOGIZES
The Roman Catholic Diocese of London issued a statement yesterday in which Bishop Ronald Fabbro expressed his regret for Rev. Charles Sylvestre’s abuse:
I sincerely apologize to the victims and their families for the abuse that they endured at the hands of Fr. Sylvestre, and for suffering the consequences of that abuse over the years. I apologize as well for the failure of the Church to protect the victims and their families from Fr. Sylvestre. The abuse of minors has been a scourge in the Diocese of London that must end, and I pledge myself as the Bishop of London to do my utmost to end it.
How the lives of three women, including Irene Deschene, right, were turned inside out by their abuse as children.
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Pedophile priest could walk free
Victims of pedophile priest Charles Sylvestre reacted with anger and despair Friday after learning their childhood abuser would walk away a free man if found unfit to stand trial.
CHATHAM – Victims of pedophile priest Charles Sylvestre reacted with anger and despair Friday after learning their childhood abuser would walk away a free man if found unfit to stand trial.
The sentencing hearing for the retired Catholic priest, who confessed last month to sexually abusing 47 girls between 1952 and 1986, came to an abrupt halt Friday after his lawyer made the surprise revelation that Sylvestre may be mentally unfit to face criminal proceedings.
The halt meant many victims, who came ready to read victim impact statements in front of Sylvestre, 84, and the judge, were denied that opportunity.
“On Aug. 3 when I had my day in court, I was strong, I didn’t shed a tear, because it was all about me,” said Tecumseh’s Mary Beth Studnicka, who came to support fellow victims.
“Today, I just wept for them.”
“One of the victims who would have spoken (Friday), minutes before the judge came she said to me, ‘I feel I’m on the edge of a cliff and I’m ready to fly.’ She was so prepared for today. When we were given that news, my fear for her, you know, she’d be more inclined to jump from that cliff.”
Court was scheduled Friday so about half of the women could give victim impact statements before an Oct. 6 sentencing. That day will now be set aside to determine if Sylvestre is fit to stand trial.
If he is found unfit, defence lawyer Andrew Bradie said the criminal case will end.
“If he is not fit to stand trial he will not go to jail,” said Bradie.
Crown attorney Paul Bailey said there would no recourse.
“It would end there,” he said. “We’d be dead in the water.”
Bailey said he didn’t know what effect that would have on Sylvestre’s guilty pleas.
“I don’t know yet,” said Bailey. “That remains to be determined. I need to see the report first.”
Bradie said he became concerned after Sylvestre’s sister, who lives with him in Belle River, expressed worries about the man’s mental state. The defence lawyer hired a psychiatrist who found Sylvestre doesn’t have the mental capacity to understand the criminal charges and what is happening in court.
“He has come to the conclusion that as of today, he is unfit to stand trial,” said Bradie.
The defence’s psychiatrist found the retired priest is confused and disoriented, Bradie said. Sylvestre also has impaired short-term memory and trouble with abstract reasoning and language.
When questioned outside court, Bradie wouldn’t elaborate.
“I’m not going to get into a lot of detail about that,” he said. “I know he was having some significant problems at home which involved, at least in part, falling down repeatedly, some confusion, some forgetfulness. Enough to cause me concern.”
The court-appointed psychiatrist will make a separate assessment.
Many people including victims and a nun, who once worked with troubled youth alongside Sylvestre, thought he might be faking it.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Sister Eleanor Gleeson, General Superior of the Ursuline Sisters of the Diocese of London. “I wish I could support it, but I don’t. I find it very difficult. I find it very heartbreaking for the victims.”
Bradie said only a psychiatrist could make the determination.
“The rest of you aren’t psychiatrists and neither are the victims or the victims’ families or support people,” he said. “I appreciate they have a concern these proceedings are being unnecessarily protracted. For anyone to suggest that somehow, watching him from a distance can determine this is all a ploy of some sort, is in my submission unreasonable.”
Bailey had asked that Sylvestre be put in custody during the assessment to ensure he was doing everything possible to stay fit, including taking any necessary medication.
“We need to have an assessment which assures there is no possibility of someone manipulating the system,” Bailey said.
But Justice Bruce Thomas said there was no justification for that.
Victim Joanne Morrison, who was assaulted up to four times a week for four years in Chatham, said she thinks Sylvestre will escape justice.
“He won,” said Morrison, who came from her British Columbia home for the proceedings. “He manipulated everyone into getting exactly what he wanted. He won. There was a lot of shock, a lot of anger. They have taken away 25 women’s rights to go in front of a judge and give their impact statements.”
twilhelm@thestar.canwest.com or 519-255-5777 ext. 642