Former priest Yvon Arsenault pleaded guilty Tuesday to nine counts of molestation dating back to 1970s.
Posted: Oct 25, 2016 3:12 PM AT Last Updated: Oct 25, 2016 3:12 PM AT
Yvon Arsenualt remains free for “humanitarian reasons” pending sentencing after pleading guilty to nine counts of molesting minors dating back to the 1970s. (Radio-Canada)
Former priest Yvon Arsenault pleaded guilty Tuesday to nine counts of molestation dating back to the 1970s.
All of the victims were minors, with the first case admitted to by Arsenault happening in Shediac in 1971.
Eleven other counts were withdrawn following Arsenault’s guilty plea.
Arsenault will return to the Court of Queen’s Bench on Feb. 24 for a sentencing hearing before Justice Zoël Dionne.
Arsenault will remain free until sentencing for “humanitarian reasons,” said Crown prosecutor Annie St. Jacques.
The maximum sentence for molestation in the 1970s was 10 years in prison.
The former priest has previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and his trial by judge alone was to begin Tuesday, but he changed his plea to guilty.
When he was entering the courthouse Tuesday Arsenault became annoyed at the sight of a Radio-Canada camera operator and said, in French, “This should be illegal.”
As he was leaving the courthouse Tuesday, Arsenault stated: “No comment, it’s not over.”
The smug smile on his face… Does that look like the face of a priest who, 30 minutes before, pled guilty to nine counts of child molestation?
I want to look at his face when I read my victim impact statement, for nothing else, to see him wipe that smile off his face as he gets hand-cuffed. If he continues to smile, that will tell us a lot about his personality, now, won’t it?
Is this disgusting vermin still a priest? He is referred to here as “a former priest”, but doesn’t indicate if he has been formally defrocked.
Yes jj, the smart smirk says it all. This person has no conscience – I suspect his smirk will still be there when you read your impact statement.
Stay strong, there is NO shame in the truth. All the best for you – Mike.
No Mike, you are absolutely right, he has not been defrocked. Unfortunately he is still very much a priest. The media often think that if a priest is retired or suspended that he is a ‘former’ priest.
Thanks Sylvia. How despicable it is that this creature still represents the Roman Catholic Church as a priest.
It is so difficult for me, and thousands of others who would like to reclaim their faith, but can’t because of this. Mike.
I understand the dilemma Mike. I hear it so often. I sometimes suggest offering up a little prayer every day asking for a restoration of that lost faith. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. It doesn’t have to be long. It could be as simple as one Hail Mary. God hears.
This isn’t asking that our eyes be closed to the horrors and the cover-ups. Not at all. The practise of faith and attendance at Mass does not and should not negate addressing the corruption. I still practise my faith. I do what I can to expose the betrayals of truth, the corruption and cover-ups. I can not conceive not having access to the Sacraments, or not attending Mass. Those are my strength.
I think one of the saddest things about clerical sexual abuse is the loss of faith which is almost inevitably fall out from the abuse, and I often think how terribly difficult it must be for victims to try to deal with the pain and anger and fear while feeling so alone. I pray for all of you at every Mass I attend.
Thank you! Mike.
A few thoughts from my bucket list:
All religions have defined a higher power called God, Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Shiva, Krishna, Dios, Gitche Manitou, Nirambar,, Tsukihi or otherwise. Interreligious conflicts are ominous, because they have developed and applied different rules and practices to honour their supreme being. Conflicts, discriminations, injuries and especially wars have and still continue to afflict our religious world, however there is one covenant to which all religions agree, without exception, and that is “Do not sexually touch children”…Paul
Nothing encourages sin like a clergyman committing one…..Paul
Amazing how happy he seems
This scum bag was not doing any humanitary work. He should have to prove to the court what was his humanitary work ?? Using an elderly person for her $$$$.And by the way ,he was seen reading scripture in the Stella Maris de Kent Hospital chapel on several occasions