Please note, there is NO statute of limitations on sex abuse crimes in Canada. It matters not when the abuse occurred – whether a week ago or 40 years ago. Any allegations of sexual abuse can be reported to the police. If the alleged predator is still alive, and if an investigation concludes there is sufficient evidence to proceed, charges can be laid. Those who are just coming to terms with childhood sexual abuse and wondering if they can report to police, the answer is yes. I strongly encourage you to do so. I also encourage you to have a strong network of support in place before you proceed, be it family members and/or friends, to you help you through what is both a healthy but often difficult painful journey.
Church-State
27 February 2012: Supreme Court of Tennessee at Jackson Norman Redwig v. Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of Memphis (addresses issue of Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine) (USA – Tennessee)
04 November 2010: Cloyne Report (Ireland)
25 March 2004: John Doe v. Bennett (Supreme Court of Canada)
18 May 2010: The complexity of Church-State relations
17 May 2010: Vatican asks for dismissal of US lawsuit
17 May 2010: Pope-Bishop relationship key in sex-abuse defence
Criminal Code of Canada
The Evolving Criminal Code of Canada
Court Documents related to clerical sex abuse allegations
20 July 1994: R v English Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal
24 January 1994: R. v. Ian Cooper
20 September 2010: Michael Blum Statement of Claim
25 March 2004: John Doe v. Bennett (Supreme Court of Canada)
04 October 1991: R. v. Aloysius Antle
28 May 1990: R. v. Bennett Between Her Majesty the Queen, and Kevin Joseph Bennett
1987: R. v. Crampton (1987 Supreme Court of Ontario, Court of Appeal)
Documentaries
02 May 2012: VIDEO The World: The Shame of the Catholic Church (BBC)
June 2011: VIDEO documentary Abused – Breaking the Silence (Rosminian abuse of boys at schools in England and Tanzania)
Duty to Report
07 December 1995: Ontario Court (General Division) (Divisional Court) - Southey, McRae and Desmarais JJ: Between Police Complaints Commissioner Police Constable Perry Dunlop
Pardons
15 April 2010: Disgraced choirmaster faces new charges
05 April 2010: Sheldon Kennedy shocked over coach`s pardon
Pre-sentencing Custody (Canada)
February 2010: Credit for Time Served in Pre-sentencing Custody
Publication bans
10 August 2010: Supreme Court upholds publication ban for bail hearings
Registered sex offenders
28 April 2010: Ex priest won’t be living in Santa Fe
Sex Ed
2010: The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1 to 8 Health and Physical Education: Revised (SEX ED program ONTARIO Premier Dalton McGuinty intends to impose on all Ontario school children, Catholic and non-Catholic alike)
Statute of Limitations
(There is NO statute of limitations on sex abuse allegations in Canada)
16 October 2010: Supreme court ponders sex abuse case (there is a statute of limitations on launching a lawsuit in the province of Quebec)
16 October 2010: Justice denied
13 July 2010: Breaking the Code of Silence
28 April 2010: Time is right to pass bill extending statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims (USA)
28 April 2010: Time limits will end to file sex abuse cases (USA)
Whistleblowers
07 April 2010: Whistleblower wins case against feds
27 January 1994: Pedersen v. Fulton