I will be on the road at the crack of dawn this morning and home in the early evening .
Good news on clerical molester Father Eric Dejaeger, Canada’s Oblate fugitive from justice. The wheels of justice are rolling 🙂 It’s taken a while, but it looks like things are happening. More to come on this as soon…
Enough for now,
Sylvia
I feel ashamed to say that until recently F. Erik was a very good friend of mine. But I didn’t know anything about what happened. He told us about his mission in Canada, he told us about Lourdes, but he never told us about the abuse. He was a very charming and kind man, a man of faith. At least, that’s what I thought of him. Now I’m sick knowing what he did. I lost many nights of sleep, hoping he didn’t touch the children that often came with their parents to parties and masses…
On television they said that the police did not arrest him this morning, because they didn’t have the necessary documents. I think it is an offence to all the children he abused. I really hope he will (have to) go back to Canada to be sentenced for the remaining 9 assaults. And God knows how many children were too afraid to tell, so we don’t know about…
Where was Father Eric saying Mass Lisa? and how often?
Brave of you to disclose about your feelings Lisa,bravo!
In few words, Lisa has said so very, very much, ie)the secrets, the deceit, the feel of shame by people who believe they truly knew the “accused”, the shame/fear of those who may not have been able or willing to “speak out”.
I don’t remember if he celebrated mass in public, but he did celebrate at Wereld-Missiehulp, Boechout, Belgium. And later in a small comunity of religieus sisters and laics twice a week and every 4th sunday of the month… Those people did many good things and I don’t want to compromise them.
Now I heard on the news that he doesn’t have the belgian nationality anymore, but still exists the possibility that they will not send him to Canada. I hope, but fear it will not happen, that his congregation will send him back to avoid more problems with the people…
And yes, I am afraid. I may have lost almost all my friends because of this. He was such a charming man all those years, that they say he deserves a second chance… I think differently. I want to protect the children… And now, telling this here, maybe something will start rolling about his case and when they find out it was me…
I can honestly say I never saw him doing anything wrong, never could expect what he had done… It is very hard to hear about him every day in the news, see his picture… I try to forget about those times, which were nice, happy times. But now there is a dark shadow over all those memories…
You are right to want to protect children Lisa. Every adult should want to protect children. The Church wouldn’t be in the mess she’s in right now if adults – clergy included- had spent more time ensuring children are as safe as is humanly possible around Roman Catholic priests and far less time deceiving the faithful while covering up for the sins and crimes of predatory priests.
All I can say is shame on those who are willing to put children at risk – and all to give a ‘second chance’ to a fugitive priest who has already raped the souls of trusting children, brought disgrace and dishonour to the Church and to the priesthood, and defiantly thumbed his nose at the law of the land in Canada.
Never never let anyone convince you that it is wrong to want to protect children Lisa. You know that already. That is why you are speaking up. Good for you. My prayers are with you.