Awaiting news

I, with all of you I am sure, am awaiting some news of the two long-awaited sex abuse trials currently underway

(1)  Gabriel Del Bianco  formerly a priest with the Diocese of London, Ontario, now a counsellor.   Trial started yesterday in Sarnia, Ontario.  As I noted a few days ago, Gabe Del Bianco, who left the priesthood in 1996, has admitted fathering the child of one of his victims.  He has been working as a counsellor in Kincardine, Ontario and, believe it or not, after he was charged had set up a new counselling business optimistically called “After the Storm” counselling.  His wife Pat was working as his receptionist.  I phoned to ensure it was him and that he had in fact started up under a new name.  Yes to both.    When I asked Pat how Del Bianco can carry on counselling when he is facing several sex abuse charges she hung hung up.

(2)  Paul Leroux who once worked as a supervisor at the Beauval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan Battleford, Saskatchewan.  In 1998 Leroux was sentenced to 10 years for  for sexually abusing 14 boys at the Grollier Hall residential school run by the Oblates in Inuvik until 1985.   He was also convicted in 1979  for sexual abuse of a boy in Inuvik.  The current charges relate to his time as supervisor at the Beauval Indian Residential School.   A defiant Leroux has claimed the Beauval charges are “copy-cat” charges.

Leroux, who was raised in Granby, Quebec, has said that he was sexually abused as a teenager when he was a member of the church choir.  I have been told that he is an ex-seminarian but have as yet been unable to corroborate that.

No news yet.  Hopefully there will be reports from both courtrooms by day’s end.  If you see or hear something please send a link .

Yet again I encourage those who can do so to get to the courthouse when you can.  It is so important that the complainants know there are people there who care.  Keep them all in your prayers.

Enough for now,

Sylvia