It’s all “legal”

When it comes to dealing with convicted molesters in Canada, we  truly are in a sad state in this country – both in and out of the Church.

Look at this series of articles:

18 October 2016:  “Sex offender Denis Hall a ‘legitimate candidate’ for Saskatoon Catholic trustee” & related articles

Can you believe your eyes?  Really and truly.  Can you believe it?

Denis Hall, a convicted molester,  running for trustee for a Roman Catholic school board.  And presumably no one – no one! – could do anything about it!

Thanks be to God, he dropped out, presumably of his own volition.  Mind you, witness the following, he wasn’t happy to do so:

“The use of the terms ‘pedophile’ and ‘sexual assault’ by the mainstream media are completely and categorically false,” he said in an email to CBC News.

“They misrepresent me and my ancient past in the worst possible light, and render untenable my continuance as a candidate, as well as my ability to serve on the board should I have been elected.”

However, because Hall failed to withdraw from the race in time, , his name is still on the list!

How have we come to this?

From a strictly Roman Catholic perspective, what is wrong with both the Saskatoon Diocese and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) board?  How could they possibly allow this to happen?

Oh, yes, everyone of these ‘good’ Catholics had ‘concerns,’ but no one did anything.  The diocese did nothing.  The school board did nothing.  Well, there was a  little hand-wringing here and gnashing of teeth there.  But, that aside, nothing.

Here’s what we hear, via the media,  from the diocese

• “An important question to ask is whether Mr. Hall could enter into a relationship with others where the bonds of trust can be easily developed and sustained so that the good work of proclaiming the message of the gospel can easily and naturally take place,” the diocese’s acting administrator Father Kevin McGee said in a written statement.

 

• “I have reason for serious concern that Denis is not suited for this position,” McGee said. “Having said that, Mr. Hall has met the legal qualifications to run as a candidate. We trust in the electoral process and the wisdom of the electorate.”

And this, via the media, from the school board:

“Mr. Hall qualifies as a candidate under the Local Government Elections Act, 2015. The school division has no legal recourse and is bound by the legislation,” a statement from the school division read.

“We are aware of Mr. Hall’s criminal convictions, and we have taken steps over the years to prevent him and his organization, YAS, from having access to students and our buildings. We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our students in the future.”

This is beyond belief.  Not a single soul from the Saskatoon diocese, ditto the Catholic school board, can tell a convicted child molester that he can NOT be a trustee because, as a convicted molester, he is NOT qualified to be a trustee with a Roman Catholic school board.

Note that Hall ran in 2003.  Did not a soul know back then ?  No one?!  Are these people not vetted?  Does the pardon mean he does not have to disclose the fact that he was in fact convicted for sexually abusing those young girls?  What exactly does a pardon entail?  And, who grants them?  Do they have children?  Do they care about children?

Part of me says I shouldn’t be surprised.

I don’t know if Archbishop Donald Bolen knew about this before he officially departed the Diocese of Saskatoon and was installed as Archbishop of Regina on the 14th of October.  It all seemed to blow up just after his departure – publicly at least

[As an aside, Archbishop Bolen seemed to have no difficulties concelebrating alongside convicted child molester Father Kenneth Greer in 20019.  That was back in 2009 when Bolen was Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Regina.  Here’s a picture:

Convicted child molester Father Ken Greer second from left,. Then Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Regina Msgr. Donald Bolan fourth from left – Bolan is now the Bishop of Saskatoon. Father Eugen Schaffer first left. Fr. Gordon Rushika centre. Priest to left unknown.

I suppose that’s par for the course in a lot of dioceses these days?  Small wonder then that we have stooped to these depths where known molesters are free to do as they please, both in and out of the Church.

Look at the situation in St. John’s Newfoundland.  Remember   Raymond Garteh Standford.?

Standford, a former teacher in Roman Catholic school , was convicted in 1990.  As of at least 2011 Stanford has been employed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador at a sports centre – a sports centre frequented by young boys and girls!

Those in positions of authority at the centre and in the government know this man’s background.  They know he’s a molester.

No big deal.  It’s all “legal.”   No cause for concern.  It’s “legal.”

God help us all, and God help the poor dear innocent children of this land.

*****

I heave a few more bits of information on Father Danny Mills to add – will do so later today or in am.

Enough for now,

Sylvia