There is an article in Acadie Nouvelle regarding the death of Levi Noel, a defrocked priest and serial molester who died 13 May 2016. It is in French. Here is an external link: L’ancien prêtre Lévi Noël est décédé
I tired a quick google translation – looked a bit of a mess so will try later and spen a little more time at it. If anyone can help with translation please do 🙂
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BC posted a link to an article on the sentencing of Father Jean-Claude Bergeron CSsR. Again, the article is in French and google translation here is a disaster. I will look around for other coverage of the sentencing which translates a little better. Again, any help in translation welcome 🙂
Here is an external link to the article: http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/justice-et-faits-divers/201605/16/01-4982058-le-redemptoriste-jean-claude-bergeron-condamne-a-4-ans-de-prison.php
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Catholic teacher Jessica Beraldin had a court date in Ottawa this morning. This, I am sure, will be the first of many. I don’t know if the process is the same when the accused predator is female: if it is it will probably be at least two years before there is any resolution
If anyone knows what happened this am please pass on the news. I will check tomorrow afternoon for the next court date.
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I just realized early this morning that I had not come close to filling in info which I had intended to post on the Father Stephen Amesse page. Today, therefore, was committed to adding links to relevant past posts, articles and information. I won’t go into detail right now – those who are interested can check the page and scan through the material.
Enough for now,
Sylvia
RE: Father Bergeron translation
English The Canadian Press story here:
http://www.timescolonist.com/redemptorist-priest-in-quebec-gets-four-years-for-sexually-abusing-boys-1.2255933
… not sure about the former priest comment though… francophone media indicating he’s still very much a clerical convict…
Thanks BC. The article is posted:
16 May 2016: Redemptorist priest in Quebec gets four years for sexually abusing boys
He is still listed in the 2016 Canadian Catholic Church Directory – address in Saint-Augustine-de-Desmaures, Quebec. I think he is still very much a Roman Catholic priest.
Unfortunately there is an erroneous assumption on the part of many reporters that if Church officials say a priest has been “suspended” or is is ‘not in active ministry’ that means he has been defrocked/laicized. Not true.
HIGHLY UNOFFICIAL translation:
The former priest Lévi Noël, who was sentenced to 8 years in prison for sexual offences committed on the Acadian peninusla, died Friday.
Ordained in 1956, Lévi Noël admitted guilt to 22 counts of gross indecency and indecent assault in 2009. The incidents took place between 1958 and 1981, involving 18 boys between the ages of eight and 16.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 2010, a punishment that the Crown prosecutor said set an example, saying that “this was the most severe sentence ever given a priest for sex crimes in Canada.”
In 2011, he pled guilty in another case of sexual assault of a minor. One year later, he was defrocked by the Vatican. That same year, he was denied parole. As an octogenarian, the parole board concluded his level of risk would be “greatly increased” if he found himself in the presence of young boys, adding that “all contact with young boys could easily lead him to return to his negative thought patterns and could stiumulate his inappropriate sexual desires.
According to one of Noel’s victims, who had asked that CSC inform him of any change in his correctional status, the former preist had been freed a year ago, and was living in the Valleyfield area, near Montreal. He was required, however, to adhere to several conditions.
A government representative advised some of the former cleric’s victims that Lévi Noël died the morning of May 13, at the age of 89.
“Even in old age, he was still capable of abusing children, but now I know he will never do it again,” Lowell Mallais, one of Noel’s victims, told l’Acadie Nouvelle.
Another victim hoped that his death would provide some closure to those who were still tortured by Noel’s actions, even now.
“I hope his death will ease the pain of his vicitms a little. He was in prison for a few years, but his victims were put in prison for live. He took their souls,” said Conrad Brideau.
“Lévi Noël left a path of destruction. He destroyed many lives. Some killed themselves. There are people in prison because of him. Others did the same thing as him and abused children. When you’re treated this way by an authority figure, it destroys your life,” he said.
The Bathhurst Diocese has settled 80 claims of damages from victims through a conciliation process led by the former Superme Court judge Michel Bastarache. The settlements cost $5.5 million.
Conrad Brideau chose not to participate in the conciliation, choosing rather to file a civil claim.
Thank you! Thank you so much Bob.
I have posted the article now with original French attached. Here it is:
17 May 2016: “Ex-priest Levi Noel died” & original French text
I took a chance on the title – seemed to me that the google translation of the “old priest” as in, “The old priest died Christmas Levi” should translate as ‘ex-priest’? Am I way off base here., or is that alright?
And, of course, “Christmas Levi “has to be Noel Levi 🙂
… it’s all right Sylvia… ancient meaning; former; ex
Thanks BC. Sigh of relief 🙂