The name of Father Jacques Faucher, a priest of the Archdiocese of Ottawa now facing charges related to sex abuse of a seven-year-old boy in the 70s, has been added to the Accused page, and a Father Jacques Faucher page with further information has been added.
As you can see, Father Faucher has been a busy man, involved since his 1960 ordination in school boards, the ecumenical movement, teaching high school catechism, French language issues, the homeless, and, of course, as parish priest in various churches in the Ottawa Archdiocese.
He’s out on bail. Lots of conditions, but, the bottom line is he’s out and about. Why bail is granted in these cases is still beyond me, but, there you go. He’s out and about.
There are a series of documents and articles posted on the page, either attached as text articles at the bottom, or accessible via links. You can work your way through them at your leisure. There is one letter to the Editor however that I want to draw attention to. It’s a letter to the Editor of the Prairie Messenger, a “Catholic” weekly published by St. Peter’s Press in Muenster, Saskatchewan. Here it is:
27 November 2002: PM has helped Christian-Muslim dialogue in nation’s capital
There are two sentences of interest, one because it relates to Father Faucher, and the other because it relates to an Oblate priest whose name has figured prominently on the site. Here are the sentences with my comment underneath each:
(1) “My brother, Jean-Paul Isabelle, OMI, gave us a subscription years ago”
That’s one and the same Father Jean-Paul Isabelle who at the very least twiddled his thumbs when Father Eric Dejeager decided to elude justice by fleeing to his native Belgium. He certainly didn’t stop him.
And it’s the same Father Isabelle who set up a sort of secret code so that Dejaeger could let the Oblates here know where he was, and, yes, it’s the same Father Isabelle who sent a letter warning Dejaeger that a warrant was out for his, Dejaeger’s, arrest.
Finally, it’s the same Father Isabelle who told the RCMP he didn’t know where Dejeager was in Belgium.
(2) “The very first thing I do after reading your paper is to pass it on to a very close friend, L’abb* Jacques Faucher, who was and is on a very modest income as a parish priest in Ottawa but now re-assigned to an ecumenical role in the diocese..”
That’s one and the same Father Jacques who is now facing charges related to sex abuse of a seven-year-old boy in the 70s.
I have another few bits and pieces to add to the page. I will do so tomorrow and make note of the additions when I do so.
As I said elsewhere, I commend the complainant for summoning the courage to go to police. Well done. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay strong.
I will post here the contact info from the Ottawa Police Service Press Release of yesterday:
Anyone with information about this incident or other incidents is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944 or Phone Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.
One more thing before I forget. There was apparently a publication ban on court proceedings this morning. Strange.
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I have a few articles which were kindly sent to me on the Deacon Cassista charges. All being well I will put them through google translate and post them tomorrow.
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My trip to Victoria, BC to testify at trial is turning into a bit of mess 🙁 My flight was booked by the AG’s office yesterday. I received the eticket today. As soon as I got the info today I set about finding and booking a flight for my husband. I really do want him there with me in court .
So, after some fiddling online and a couple of phone calls I finally bought the ticket, and, barring Calgary to Ottawa on the return flight, we will be able to fly together.
BUT, within about an hour or less of booking the flight, word from Victoria that the trial may be postponed! I am now waiting for further word :(.
Oh my! Not a good day. Ash Wednesday yesterday. Not a good start for Lent. Not a good Valentine’s Day.
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A belated Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone 🙂
Enough for now,
Sylvia
A link to a CBC video which has archival clips of Father Faucher. Unfortunately now that most media outlets post their video clips with ads I am finding it impossible to save them for posting on the site. I can get the ad, no problem, but just can not get the clip itself. If anyone knows a way to deal with this please let me know.
Here is the external link to watch the clip: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/02/14/ottawa-priest-charged-historical-sexual-assault.html
My poor Mother , I talked to her on the phone today she was great friends with Fr Faucher for years, my grandmother thought the world of him god rest her soul if she were alive this news would devastate her. My Mom is really struggling with this news she’s so upset, but shockingly enough she called him poor Fr Faucher and went on to say if he called to chat with her she wasn’t going to mention anything about the charges. I asked her why not why pretend he is a con artist, he is charming and amicable for a reason to gain trust and accesse into people’s lifes and hopefully into their children’s life’s he chose the best position to do so the priesthood, I don’tsay it’s the only reason but the main one I’m sure. I explained to her she’s feeling badly because the person she knew and trusted didn’t really exist the person she respected and enjoyed so much is actually someone who if a stranger she would find disgusting a person that knowing and willingly harms children in a very disgusting manner, who hides behind his persona waiting for opportunity to practice his sickness on the weakest and most vulnerable of our society. Usually damaging them irreparably, I explained to my sad 79 year old Mom that this man does not deserve her well meaning sympathy unless he comes forward and feels TRUE remorse for what he has done gets help and never harms another child maybe then he might deserve her sympathy.
I remember this priest, indeed – he was in our parish while I was attending Notre Dame Des Anges elementary school on Forward Ave. back in the early 70’s. But Mr. Faucher didn’t work alone – he enlisted the help of another young boy to find other boys from the area to bring back to the church for him to grope and fondle. He tried that with me when I was 7 years old myself, back around 1971. However, the church was a dark and creepy place as far as I was concerned, and when Mr. Faucher kept insisting that I sit on his lap, I got the hell out of there before he could do anything to me. Needless to say, I never went back again, either.
Wayne, I suggest you contact the police. What you know may be of assistance to them.