Father Linus Bastien has a court date on 24 January 2012. It has been added to the legal calendar.
I will get Father O’Keefe’s next court date tomorrow. I will also find out what happened to the sentencing hearing for Father Yvon Doiron – it sounds as though it didn’t happen as scheduled on the 15th – doesn’t make sense.
*****
I posted JG’s picture as requested:
15 January 2012: JG’s email and parents’ wedding picture
A truly beautiful couple. A reminder to us all that every victim of clerical sexual abuse is a human being with hopes and dreams, and, as we learned from JG, with persons near and dear to them who are frequently impacted by the abuse.
And, in case you missed it, JG donated the ‘settlement’ he recently received from the diocese to a local food bank. It wasn’t about the money.
*****
Belgian authorities are still on the hunt for evidence of negligence and/or failure to aid abuse victims on the part of that Church officials:
16 January 2012: “Belgian Church Offices Raided in Abuse Inquiry” and other relevant articles
A worthy endeavour!
Enough for now,
Sylvia
JG’s story nearly broke my heart. Donating the money, what a beautiful tribute to JG’s father. He is still a beacon of courage to others – to speak up so later in life.
How true. It is never about the money. It is about the truth.
Prayers to JG and his family.
JG’s story is incredible.
I’m glad he had the chance to speak about his Dad here at this site.
JG’s Mother and Dad’s wedding picture….beautiful!
Sincerely, best wishes to you JG and all your loved ones.
Lina
Thank You,
Ann C., Lina… and all who are working to make this a safer place for the most vulnerable…My Father was very touched to see the crowd who attended my Mother’s funeral…He was humbled and he didn’t think so many cared or even knew him…I feel he and my mother are being vindicated …and probably embarrassed at all the fuss!…
I believe you only really die when you are forgotten…and that won’t happen for a while!
Sylvia, to give credit where it is due…
No money would have been paid at all had it not been for Rob Talach who alerted me to the “attempted slight” of the church on the 07 Jan 2011…Anyway, I would have dropped all this six months ago. Rob secured the donation which went directly to the board director of the “Restigouche County Volunteer Action Association”…who also happens to be a lawyer in his day job! Say all you want about lawyers but when money is involved, they can follow a trail. In this case they were the only ones to get any recognition from the Diocese…Very telling!
From the start I believe I may have “ruffled” a few feathers and there is no way the Diocese, the bishop or Bastarache’s team would concede and “create a precedent” by paying the estate of a deceased victim…and “the evidence was not strong enough” to go to trial …
I’m trying to reconcile all this with my Faith…
Again, thank you Sylvia and all who take the time to “listen” …
jg
Your Mom and Dad were also fortunate J.G. They can thank God now for a good son in you.
Hi Larry,
I read your last post this morning with my coffee, before I served breakfast…I went outside to shovel a few hours…All the while with your words going back and forth in my head…”a good son”…”The good son”…sounds like a movie title…Debating whether I should respond…because I keep saying I have to stay away, stand back and return to “my life”…like Mike Mc mentioned on another tread yesterday…
Then this picture ( I’m very visual) came to me about the “footsteps in the sand” story about the man who thought he had been alone in his life, because he only saw one set of prints behind him…You know the rest!
Well, I’m probably that man and I would have to write a book to tell of all the times when I have been “carried”…By my parents, friends, total strangers, my dear good wife(beyond comprehension!…)…So, I can only say that your few words were accepted on behalf of all who have had a “good” influence on me. It all comes down to a matter of “choice” and “good influence” on others that make a difference…
I’m tempted to go on with a parallel as it concerns the churches influence and role…
I know you are right here with me on this so I won’t put you to sleep…
Some blessed souls don’t need to understand good: they just pour it out . I am still working on myself, until the last minute of breath, but I am always “carried”…Like Thomas, I understand and believe because I saw…
jg