Delayed again

Delayed….

Former priest’s sexual assault trial delayed until fall

NTV

Posted on May 12, 2016 by ntvwebeditor in Justice

It will be at least the fall before the trial can begin in the case of a former priest accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. NTV’s Don Bradshaw reports.

Good coverage, but, let me get this off my chest

As of 23 June 2013 Father Gary Hoskins had NOT been defrocked/lacized, nor did he leave the priesthood in 1995.  Whether or not he has been defrocked since then I don’t know, but the reality is that this clerical molester was convicted in 1987 (guilty plea) ,  taken into the Archdiocese of Toronto Ontario by Cardinal Emmett Carter, recycled into parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto.  The ruse was up when, according to “Kate,” visitors from Newfoundland recognized him in the sanctuary at  St. Anne’s in Brampton.  When nothing was done to remove him, parishioners went to the Brampton Guardian.  After that there was some sort of Sunday announcement  “We were told that no one in the parish was asked about their past when they joined the parish, so basically it wasn’t our business about this situation.”  Hoskins denied everything.  And then on to St. Joseph on Leslie St. in Toronto, and then to St. Michael’s Cathedral.  How much he assisted at the latter two parishes I have no idea.

And, yes, after all of that, while still very much a convicted molester and a Roman Catholic priest, he was working as a social worker – an addiction therapist/trainer.

He was a priest.  Throughout all of those years, he was still very much a Roman Catholic priest.  I understand that it is easy for people to think or assume that if a priest is working as a social worker then he can not possibly still be a priest and has therefore left the priesthood, but as logical as that may seem, it  gives far more credit than is their due to both the bishops and the predators.  As of 2013, convicted or no, social worker or no,  Father Hoskins was still a priest.

No, I’m not making this up.  Back in 2013 I contacted the chancellor of the diocese specifically to find out if Hoksins had been laicized.  Here is the response:

From: Diocesan Email [mailto:diocese@nf.aibn.com]
Sent: June-17-13 8:04 AM
To: Sylvia
Subject: Re: Gary Hoskins

Dear Ms. MacEachern:

No, to this point no formal laicization process has taken place.

With best regards,

Father Devine

In 2013 he was still a priest.  I have heard that there was a move afoot to have him laicized.  True or false?  I shall try to find out.

Now, briefly back to the article and what I call the revolving courtroom door.

There was no court per se yesterday.  According to the report above, both Crown and defence have asked for more time to prepare.  For whatever reason, they weren’t ready.  They will be given about four more months.  That takes it to around mid to end September.  Come mid to late September, the arguments re similar fact evidence which were scheduled to be argued yesterday will argued!

And then, on to trial?

We can only hope.

Lest we all forget, these charges were laid 13 February 2013.  Yes, over three long years ago!

Please keep the complainant and his family in your prayers.Enough for now,

Sylvia