Didn’t notify police
The Nation Post (print edition – page A5)
04 January 2013
MONCTON, N.B. – A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick should have notified police immediately when it heard last year that two priests were alleged to have sexually abused children, say two lawyers who have represented victims of abuse by clergymen.
Robert Talach and John McKiggan say the Archdiocese of Moncton had a responsibility to refer the matter to the RCMP once it became aware.
“You name me any other institution, school board, a daycare, or a boys’ home that would not immediately react with disgust and outrage and drag the information down to the police station before the end of that same day,” Talach said Thursday from his London, Ont., office.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese said it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to report their allegations to the police.
Donald Langis said former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the accusations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Mr. Langis said as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Judge Bastarache agreed with Mr. Langis, saying the Church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have direct knowledge of what may have happened nor the identities of the alleged victims.
“The bishop can’t give them the names because he doesn’t have them and I can’t give them because I have a confidentiality agreement with the victims,” Judge Bastarache said in an interview from Ottawa.
“It has to be a victim that goes to the police and not somebody with third-party information.”
Judge Bastarache said he encouraged the alleged victims to go to the police.
But Mr. Talach said that because the judge is working for the archdiocese, it has a duty to report the allegations to police.
Mr. McKiggan echoed that position.
“Mr. Bastarache is the lawyer for the diocese, so any information communicated to Mr. Bastarache is information being communicated to the diocese,” Mr. McKiggan said from Halifax. “They are required to act on that information.”
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault, 70, was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest. Arsenault also retired in July.
Rev. Irois Despres, 82, was also suspended last month, Mr. Langis said, though he retired in 1992.
Mr. Langis said he could not explain why the archdiocese took six months to inform the public that it had removed Rev. Arsenault. But he said the announcement came after the archdiocese received an interim report in December from Judge Bastarache on the reconciliation and compensation process.
Judge Bastarache is expected to deliver a final report to the archdiocese later this month. None of the allegations has been proven in court.
Mr. Talach is representing victims of a priest convicted of sexual assault in lawsuits in a separate matter.
McKiggan was the lawyer for confirmed and alleged victims of sexual abuse at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. The diocese concluded a $16-million compensation settlement late last year.
The Canadian Press
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Complaints about Catholic Church’s handling of abuse complaints
98.9 Big John FM
By MNN. Last updated: 2013-01-04 07:58:58
The Archdiocese of Moncton, which removed two priests after hearing of sexual abuse accusations last year, says it is not responsible for referring the matter to police.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese says it is up to the victims to go to the RCMP with their accusations. Donald Langis says former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the allegations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process last spring for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest. Langis says as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Bastarache agrees with the Diocese, saying the Church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have any details or know the identities of the alleged victims. Bastarache says he can’t give the church the names because he’s bound by a confidentiality agreement, but he urged the individuals to go to police.
However, Robert Talach, a lawyer representing victims of another priest at another diocese, disagrees saying the archdiocese had a responsibility to notify police immediately…says any other institution would have done so.
__________________________________
Catholic Sex Abuse: New Brunswick Diocese Says Its Up To Alleged Victims To Make Police Reports
The Huffington Post
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 01/03/2013 3:50 pm EST | Updated: 01/03/2013 6:20 pm EST
MONCTON, N.B. – A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick should have notified police immediately when it heard last year that two priests were alleged to have sexually abused children, say two lawyers who have represented victims of abuse by clergymen.
Robert Talach and John McKiggan say the Archdiocese of Moncton had a responsibility to refer the matter to the RCMP once it became aware of the accusations.
“You name me any other institution, school board, a daycare, or a boys’ home that would not immediately react with disgust and outrage and drag the information down to the police station before the end of that same day,” Talach said Thursday from his London, Ont., office.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese said it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to report their allegations to the police.
Donald Langis said former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the accusations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Langis said as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Bastarache agreed with Langis, saying the Church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have direct knowledge of what may have happened nor the identities of the alleged victims.
“The bishop can’t give them the names because he doesn’t have them and I can’t give them because I have a confidentiality agreement with the victims,” Bastarache said in an interview from Ottawa.
“It has to be a victim that goes to the police and not somebody with third-party information.”
Bastarache said he encouraged the alleged victims to go to the police.
But Talach said that because Bastarache is working for the archdiocese, it has a duty to report the allegations to police.
McKiggan echoed that position.
“Mr. Bastarache is the lawyer for the diocese, so any information communicated to Mr. Bastarache is information being communicated to the diocese,” McKiggan said from Halifax. “They are required to act on that information.”
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault, 70, was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest. Arsenault also retired in July.
Rev. Irois Despres, 82, was also suspended last month, Langis said, though he retired in 1992.
Langis said he could not explain why the archdiocese took six months to inform the public that it had removed Arsenault. But he said the announcement came after the archdiocese received an interim report in December from Bastarache on the reconciliation and compensation process.
Bastarache is expected to deliver a final report to the archdiocese later this month.
Bastarache said he heard the allegations involving Arsenault and Despres from four or five people.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
The RCMP says it can’t confirm if anyone is being investigated unless a charge is laid.
Talach is representing victims of a New Brunswick priest convicted of sexual assault in a lawsuit in a separate matter.
McKiggan was the lawyer for confirmed and alleged victims of sexual abuse at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. The diocese concluded a $16-million compensation settlement late last year.
— By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton.
____________________
Roman Catholic diocese had duty to report sex abuse allegations, lawyers say
The Montreal Gazette
03 January 2013
By The Canadian Press
MONCTON, N.B. – A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick should have notified police immediately when it heard last year that two priests were alleged to have sexually abused children, say two lawyers who have represented victims of abuse by clergymen.
Robert Talach and John McKiggan say the Archdiocese of Moncton had a responsibility to refer the matter to the RCMP once it became aware of the accusations.
“You name me any other institution, school board, a daycare, or a boys’ home that would not immediately react with disgust and outrage and drag the information down to the police station before the end of that same day,” Talach said Thursday from his London, Ont., office.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese said it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to report their allegations to the police.
Donald Langis said former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the accusations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Langis said as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Bastarache agreed with Langis, saying the Church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have direct knowledge of what may have happened nor the identities of the alleged victims.
“The bishop can’t give them the names because he doesn’t have them and I can’t give them because I have a confidentiality agreement with the victims,” Bastarache said in an interview from Ottawa.
“It has to be a victim that goes to the police and not somebody with third-party information.”
Bastarache said he encouraged the alleged victims to go to the police.
But Talach said that because Bastarache is working for the archdiocese, it has a duty to report the allegations to police.
McKiggan echoed that position.
“Mr. Bastarache is the lawyer for the diocese, so any information communicated to Mr. Bastarache is information being communicated to the diocese,” McKiggan said from Halifax. “They are required to act on that information.”
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault, 70, was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest. Arsenault also retired in July.
Rev. Irois Despres, 82, was also suspended last month, Langis said, though he retired in 1992.
Langis said he could not explain why the archdiocese took six months to inform the public that it had removed Arsenault. But he said the announcement came after the archdiocese received an interim report in December from Bastarache on the reconciliation and compensation process.
Bastarache is expected to deliver a final report to the archdiocese later this month.
Bastarache said he heard the allegations involving Arsenault and Despres from four or five people.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
The RCMP says it can’t confirm if anyone is being investigated unless a charge is laid.
Talach is representing victims of a New Brunswick priest convicted of sexual assault in a lawsuit in a separate matter.
McKiggan was the lawyer for confirmed and alleged victims of sexual abuse at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. The diocese concluded a $16-million compensation settlement late last year.
— By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton.
____________________________
Roman Catholic diocese had duty to report sex abuse allegations: lawyers
CTV News
The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 10:13PM EST
MONCTON, N.B. — A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick should have notified police immediately when it heard last year that two priests were alleged to have sexually abused children, say two lawyers who have represented victims of abuse by clergymen.
Robert Talach and John McKiggan say the Archdiocese of Moncton had a responsibility to refer the matter to the RCMP once it became aware of the accusations.
“You name me any other institution, school board, a daycare, or a boys’ home that would not immediately react with disgust and outrage and drag the information down to the police station before the end of that same day,” Talach said Thursday from his London, Ont., office.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese said it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to report their allegations to the police.
Donald Langis said former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the accusations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Langis said as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Bastarache agreed with Langis, saying the Church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have direct knowledge of what may have happened nor the identities of the alleged victims.
“The bishop can’t give them the names because he doesn’t have them and I can’t give them because I have a confidentiality agreement with the victims,” Bastarache said in an interview from Ottawa.
“It has to be a victim that goes to the police and not somebody with third-party information.”
Bastarache said he encouraged the alleged victims to go to the police.
But Talach said that because Bastarache is working for the archdiocese, it has a duty to report the allegations to police.
McKiggan echoed that position.
“Mr. Bastarache is the lawyer for the diocese, so any information communicated to Mr. Bastarache is information being communicated to the diocese,” McKiggan said from Halifax. “They are required to act on that information.”
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault, 70, was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest. Arsenault also retired in July.
Rev. Irois Despres, 82, was also suspended last month, Langis said, though he retired in 1992.
Langis said he could not explain why the archdiocese took six months to inform the public that it had removed Arsenault. But he said the announcement came after the archdiocese received an interim report in December from Bastarache on the reconciliation and compensation process.
Bastarache is expected to deliver a final report to the archdiocese later this month.
Bastarache said he heard the allegations involving Arsenault and Despres from four or five people.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
The RCMP says it can’t confirm if anyone is being investigated unless a charge is laid.
Talach is representing victims of a New Brunswick priest convicted of sexual assault in a lawsuit in a separate matter.
McKiggan was the lawyer for confirmed and alleged victims of sexual abuse at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. The diocese concluded a $16-million compensation settlement late last year.
_________________________________
Lawyers slam Moncton archdiocese for failing to report sex-abuse allegations
The Toronto Globe and Mail online
Published
Last updated
KEVIN BISSETT
The Canadian Press
A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick should have notified police immediately when it heard last year that two priests were alleged to have sexually abused children, say two lawyers who have represented victims of abuse by clergymen.
Robert Talach and John McKiggan say the Archdiocese of Moncton had a responsibility to refer the matter to the RCMP once it became aware of the accusations.
“You name me any other institution, school board, a daycare, or a boys’ home that would not immediately react with disgust and outrage and drag the information down to the police station before the end of that same day,” Mr. Talach said on Thursday from his office in London, Ont.
But a spokesman for the archdiocese said it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to report their allegations to the police.
Donald Langis said former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the accusations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Mr. Langis said that, as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
Mr. Bastarache agreed with Mr. Langis, saying the church can’t report accusations to police when it doesn’t have direct knowledge of what may have happened nor the identities of the alleged victims.
“The bishop can’t give them the names because he doesn’t have them and I can’t give them because I have a confidentiality agreement with the victims,” Mr. Bastarache said in an interview from Ottawa. “It has to be a victim that goes to the police and not somebody with third-party information.”
Mr. Bastarache said he encouraged the alleged victims to go to the police.
But Mr. Talach said that because Mr. Bastarache is working for the archdiocese, it has a duty to report the allegations to police.
Mr. McKiggan echoed that position. “Mr. Bastarache is the lawyer for the diocese, so any information communicated to Mr. Bastarache is information being communicated to the diocese,” Mr. McKiggan said from Halifax. “They are required to act on that information.”
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault, 70, was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest. Rev. Arsenault also retired in July.
Rev. Irois Despres, 82, was also suspended last month, Mr. Langis said, although he retired in 1992.
Mr. Langis said he could not explain why the archdiocese took six months to inform the public that it had removed Rev. Arsenault. But he said the announcement came after the archdiocese received an interim report in December from Mr. Bastarache on the reconciliation and compensation process.
Mr. Bastarache is expected to deliver a final report to the archdiocese later this month.
Mr. Bastarache said he heard the allegations involving Rev. Arsenault and Rev. Despres from four or five people.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
The RCMP says it can’t confirm if anyone is being investigated unless a charge is laid.
Mr. Talach is representing victims of a New Brunswick priest convicted of sexual assault in a lawsuit in a separate matter.
Mr. McKiggan was the lawyer for confirmed and alleged victims of sexual abuse at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. The diocese concluded a $16-million compensation settlement late last year.
_______________________________
Moncton says it’s up to alleged sex abuse victims to call police
Global News
Thursday, January 03, 2013 5:40 PM
MONCTON, N.B. – A Roman Catholic diocese in New Brunswick that removed two priests after hearing of sexual abuse accusations last year says it is not responsible for referring the matter to police.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Moncton says it is up to the alleged sex abuse victims to go to the RCMP with their accusations.
Donald Langis says former Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache informed the archdiocese of the allegations after hearing them during a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving another priest.
Langis says as a result, the archdiocese is a third party in the matter and not obligated to go to police.
But Robert Talach, a lawyer representing victims of sexual abuse by a New Brunswick priest at another diocese, says the archdiocese had a responsibility to notify police immediately.
The RCMP says it can’t confirm if anyone is being investigated unless a charge is laid.
The archdiocese announced last weekend that Rev. Yvon Arsenault was ordered on July 4, 2012, not to carry out any duties as a priest, as was Rev. Irois Despres, though he has been retired since 1992.
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
Please read Justice Bastarache’s email of 10 December 2010 to John MacDonald and then re-read his comments above. Clcik here to link to the email:
Sad to think that church and it’s collars are still using delaying tactics when it comes to sexual abuse allegations. They removed the collars in question but didn’t tell the parishioners for another six months, and didn’t have the balls to notify the police when they took the action against the collars. They remove the collars for sexual abuse allegations, but don’t follow through by notifying the police…amazing! Another example of that church “pretending” to have the victims’ concerns addressed yet it’s all smoke and mirrors folks. If we hammer away at that church’s foundations long enough via legal means, it will eventually crumble…good riddance.
Thank you Sylvia and John for digging into this matter. Personally, I am saddenned that a retired Justice would flip-flop and waffle in this way. It seems to me he is wiggling like a worm on a hook, trying to get out of a corner.
John’s question to Mr. Bastarache is very simple, and all it requires is a simple answer, which is not forthcoming.
I smell an odour coming from the east, and it isn’t pleasant. Mike.
If I would meet with ex-judge Bastarache, my first lined would be to him “You are lying so and so! I’ve talked to a lot of victims of the diocese of Bathurst, who met Bastarache and company; long story short, 3 predetors are still living who abuses children, way back then in the diocese of Bathurst. Mind you 2 of them are very old perverts and the other is in jail or awaiting a prison term for stealing. (These 3 victims are in feeble health condition and would not survive a criminal case, and the clergy knows this.)
How can a conciliatory process in Moncton, be not the same in Basthurst? As in outcome! The difference is a victim in Moncton of father Yvon Arsenault did not go alone in meeting Bastarache and the story could not be contained! This is my take on it!
Hoping our civil suit will bring light to what is said here! and a lot more!
Baspuit,
Is there a reason why victims of these predators in the Bathurst area did not file official complaints with the RCMP? Bastarache never prevented anyone from doing so in Moncton. The media reports that the RCMP knows of alleged abuse in Moncton, but I don’t know any details other than my own.
Even the very old can be charged and found guilty of abuse – this shouldn’t stop victims from filing complaints to the police. I wouldn’t count on either Bastarache or Talach to bring criminal charges, as they are working on the civil side of this issue. The Crown can lay charges – let’s give them the ammunition they need to do so.
Respectfully,
jj
Please read again my post = These 3 victims are in feeble health condition and would not survive a criminal case, and the clergy knows this.
(How come some people can’t read my post, is it me that can not explain/write a chain of thoughts, one of my after-affect of my abuses, dyslexia, I wonder……………..)
Just wondering if and when charges will be filled against father Yvon Arsenault; will retired (or did he quit?) Bishop Ernest Léger be called to testify of his dealing in 1998 with a victim of said priest? Or will (retired) Bishop Ernest Léger be charged also for not contacting authorities, as stated, by law passed in juin 1981, in New Brunswick (I believe also in Ontario has the same law)
Fast foward …………..he’d be fined $495.00 (or lower, can’t put my finger on the right amount) compared to a find of $250,000.00 for someone copying a latest rented CD/movie from the local corner store!
Unless this law changes or/and has higher penalties these misfits are getting off way to easily, compared to victims pain & sufferings. This has to be said!
Baspuit: “Please read again my post = These 3 victims are in feeble health condition and would not survive a criminal case, and the clergy knows this.” Did you mean the 3 collars are in feeble condition or did you really mean 3 victims? If you meant the 3 collars (2 elderly and 1 in jail) were too feeble and wouldn’t survive a criminal case, then I say start the case!! I don’t give a damn about them surviving or not…they have NEVER cared about their victims so why should we care if a court case sends them to an early grave? I agree with jj that anyone at any age can be charged. Bring it on.
Thanks PJ. That’s what I thought too. I think Baspuit may have had a problem reading MY replies… 🙂 There is NO statute of limitations in Canada for sexual abuse – so I say “why wait?”
Baspuit, from your post above at 8:51 am, you clearly indicated you were unhappy with the fact that Bastarache didn’t do anything for the victims in Bathurst (whose aggressors are still alive and free – even if they are old and feeble). Yes, I can read quite well.
As for the process in Moncton, I can assure you that Arsenault’s victims were not able to present to Bastarache as a group, as you suggest – I had no idea who else spoke with M. Bastarache until it was reported in the news that several of Y. Ars’ victims reported to him. At any time, before, during, or after, I was able to pick up the phone or visit the nearest RCMP office and file an official complaint – without the help of anyone else. I’m not 15 years old anymore. Neither are the other victims.
This is why I am not hoping that Bastarache, Vienneau, or Talach, or anyone else, report this to the police – I did it myself. If, during any future proceedings, it is found that other laws were broken, then it will be the Crown’s responsibility to lay appropriate criminal charges.
I’m not a lawyer – so if anyone can explain this better than I can, please enlighten me (and others).
jj
I really meant “3 victims” or I could have put 3 victims of abuse”
Where do I suggest that Bastarache met a groupe of victims in Moncton???? I said ONE victim accompanied with a high figure person met with who ever………………….
At 8:51 am where do I say I’m not happy because Bastarache didn’t do anything for the victims in Bathurst? He met over 90 victims and 80 some signed up with his process! I said I’d call him a liar, for what he did (not do) in 3 of the 90 cases.
Try answering again, if you now know my meaning of 3 victims of abuse are in feeble condition and would surely die of all of its anguish going via criminal route!
(This new answer would mean something else if by any chance one of these 3 victims of abuse, would happen to read it?)
Actually, you said “The difference is a victim in Moncton of father Yvon Arsenault did not go alone in meeting Bastarache and the story could not be contained!”
I interpreted this as you saying that the victim went with other victims… NOT that the victim went with “a high figure” – whatever that means… When I went in to see M. Bastarache, it was quite clear that I wasn’t allowed to bring a lawyer in with me, so I went in alone.
In your post above, Baspuit, you say you would call Bastarache a “lying so and so”… Because of this, I interpreted that you were unhappy with his process in Bathurst. Your next point clarifies that you were upset about what he didn’t do for 3 of the 90 people.
I was also quite confused when you were mixing up “predators” and “victims”.
All this to say that I’m sorry I started this discussion with you – I clearly misunderstood what you were trying to say, and ended up being referred to as illiterate (“How come some people can’t read my post”).
The written word can very easily be misunderstood – I encourage you to be very clear when you write a thought, so that others may understand what you mean and reply accordingly. I apologize for any unclarity on my part, and hope you get the results you hope for in Bathurst.
jj
jj: I too was confused with his statement about the 3 predators because in the next sentence he said “these 3 victims…” and I thought he was referring to the 3 predators he was talking about. I too though he was not happy with basterache when he wrote he would call him a so and so. The lesson to all of us from this is to write our posts clearly as if we were mailing a letter to someone, and not like we were speaking in person to them. Writing means you need to make each sentence clear and understandable. When you speak to someone, they can interrupt you if they don’t understand what you are saying…that is not possible on a blog site like this. Baspuit, please don’t take what we are asking you as an attack, we are merely asking clarification so we understand what your message is. I would expect you to do the same to me if you did not understand something I was writing. We are all fighting the same foe and our emotions can sometimes get the best of us when we see how stupid that church’s responses are to victims who want to be heard. We need to keep our anger focussed on that church and not each other.
Thank you PJ for helping to clarify my message to Baspuit. I completely agree that we need to stay united here against those who have hurt us and others.
I think the best way to keep our messages clear is to avoid “rants” – unless one is fortunate enough to have Rick Mercer’s brain, we can’t usually get away with ranting effectively.
Another tip is to re-read what we write BEFORE we press the “post comment” button, to make sure it makes sense, and we didn’t make any blatant errors. In the heat of the moment, ESPECIALLY because emotions can run high in these posts, we can get carried away.
Let’s stay united, supportive, and focused on ridding the world of abusive sexual predators so that no one will live through what we had to.
jj
Sylvia just as an aside to the letter that I wrote to Mr. Bastarache I would like to mention that also cc’ed were Yvon Godin (Bathurst area MP), Brian Kenny (Bathurst MLA) and Al Hogan (editor) Moncton Times Transcript, Peter Engelmann (Lead Counsel for The Cornwall Public Inquiry), Richard Abell (Retired Director for the Children’s Aid Society-Cornwall).
There was further correspondence with Mr. Engelmann where I drew upon the New Brunswick law re: duty to report and testimony and rulings from Perry Dunlop’s Police Services Act hearing. All of this correspondence was cc’ed to all listed above including Mr. Bastarache.
With weeks of no replies from anyone on the east coast I sent an-mail to the Honourable Sue Stultz (Minister/Department of Social Development) with my original enquiries. I recieved an e-mail back from her office stating that my enquiries were forwarded to the Honourable Marie-Claude Blais (Minister/Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs). To date there has been absolutely no response from Minister Blais. Once again, all previous contacts were cc’ed.
I guess that I am posting this just to let you know that Mr. Bastarache’s response was not easy for me to get. I am just saying that sometimes we have to be a little dogged in our attempts to get those in authority to answer sometimes. I did not want it looking like Mr. Bastarache easily gave his response. Dogged I will be, if that is what it takes.
John MacDonald
Good on you John! Your persistence will pay off eventually. what a bunch of pathetic people either passing the buck or not replying. I’ll bet if one of their own children were the abused they would have taken action to get answers right away.
Yes!! Thank-you so much John! It is so sad that someone like you who has been through all this crap before has to be so dogged to get a simple answer to an apparently simple question.
I have learned much from you, and will take your strength as an example of how to proceed against these sly, shallow public figures. Mike.
John;
When we last spoke, I recall you chortling over a comment that was made to me by my boss a short while ago.After raising a safety concern at one of my employer’s monthly safety meetings, he responded with “Mike, I think you have way too much time on your hands to think about these things”
Well, it happened again last night at work.
A thought occurred to me (I’m sure this same thought hass occurred to others as well} regarding Bastarache et. al.) He says that he was “appointed” as concilliator in this matter by the Archdiocese, as if he is some sort of Head of State. How noble of him to accept this position, just purely out of the goodness of his heart! {Sorry, senile cynicism is creeping in again)
My thought is this; how tragic this is that Mr. Bastarache’s salary will FAR exceed the individual payouts he will reommend for each victim of these pervert collars.
I am weary of the church presenting this lawyer (Bastarache) as some sort of a demi-god in shining armour. How did he become an overnight expert on clergy sexual abuse?
Just my thoughts. Mike.
No argument from me Mike. The goodness from his heart was helped by the huge salary I’m sure. Remember that church and it’s collars are motivated by money and worship it more than anything else…ANYTHING.