Larre: Father Lucien Larre

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Lucien Larre

Father Lucien Larre

Ordained 1958 as an Oblate priest.  At some point in the ’70s or early 80s became  incardinated in the Archdiocese of Regina.

Founder of Bosco home for troubled youth in Sask.  Was once named Saskatchewan’s Citizen of the Year.

Was awarded the order of Canada – returned the medal after abortionist Dr. Henry Morgentaler was awarded the honour.

May 1991 faced  14 criminal charges:  nine counts of assault causing bodily harm, and one count each of sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, indecent assault, overcoming resistance to commit an offence, and administering a noxious substance.   The allegations came from eight males and four females.  Father Larre was convicted on two of the physical assault charges and  sentenced to a symbolic one day in jail plus fine.  His time in court at trial served as his time in jail, so there was no one day in jail.

After his conviction and attaining his PhD in Psychology Father Larre moved to British Columbia.  At some point he moved to Coquitlam, British Columbia.  He seemed to have spent two or more years in the Edmonton, Alberta area as well.  His name has not appeared in the Canadian Catholic Church Directory indexes since  the late 1990s, but he is still identified as, identifies himself as and is active as a priest. ( It is unknown at this time if he is or is not still incardinated in the Archdiocese of Regina.)

Has a doctorate in Psychology.  In 2006  his registration with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia in Psychology was suspended on an interim basis  “to protect the public pending an investigation and potential hearing of the College’s Discipline Committee.”  While suspended Larre chose not to renew his registration with the College and hence “his registration was cancelled effective January 1, 2008. In September 2008, Father Larre agreed to an undertaking not to apply for reinstatement of his registration.”

 

 

 

Larre now, among other things,  preaches missions, conducts retreats, speaks at Catholic Conventions.

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2007:  Reasons for Judgment –  Dr. Lucien Larre v College of Psychologists of British Columbia (Appeal of suspension of registration with College of Psychologists of British Columbia dismissed)

November 1989:  Father Larre’s War Saturday Night 1989

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At Trial

Defence: Fred Kovach        Judge:     Justice C. Ross Wimmer           Crown:    Al Johnston

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Unless otherwise indicated the following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) which I have on hand and media (M

2017:  Not listed in index of Canadian Catholic Church Directory (CCCD)

Returned his Order of Canada when the award was given to Canadian abortionist and abortion rights advocate Dr, Henry Morgentaler (M)

2007:   was stripped of his license in Psychology (he has a doctorate) by the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (M)  ” there are serious public protection concerns and an immediate risk to the public”.  (see above Dr. Larre v College of Psychologists of BD, 2007)

April or May 2007:  B.C. College of Psychologists suspended his registration on a temporary basis (M)

March 2003:  testified at trial re extradition of Michael Seifert (scroll down 05 March 2003 and 01 April 2003 articles) (M)

2002:  Not listed  in index of Canadian Catholic Church Directory (CCCD)

2000:  Not listed  in index of Canadian Catholic Church Directory (CCCD)

1998:  Registered as a Psychologist in British Columbia (M)

1998:  not listed in index (CCCD)

1997:  Grated pardon by the Nation Parole Board of Canada (M)

1997, 1996:  P.O. Box 4100. Sherwood Park, Alberta T8A 2Y7 (CCCD)

1995, 1994:  P.O. Box 1755, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3C6 (CCCD)

1993:  P.O. Box 1755, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3C6 (CCCD)

21 January 1993:  dropped appeal of his sentence for two assault related cases (M)

23 April 1993:  Acquitted on nine of 11 assault-related charges .  Plans to appeal one of the two convictions (M)

1992:  P.O. Box 1755, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3C6 (CCCD)

– at some point after his conviction was back pursuing doctorate in Psychology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio . (M)

23 May 1992:  Filed appeal of sentence – “erasure of records” which would prevent him pursuing studies in Psychology the United States  (M)

– sentenced to one day in jail and  $2,500 fine (M)

21 April 1992:  Found guilty on two charges (M)

20 April 1992:  Jury charged (M)

1991:  “Sabbatical Year” (CCCD)

September 1991:  Ordered to stand trial .  Opted for trial by jury (M)

09 September 1991:  Preliminary hearing (M)

03 May 1991: Charged with 14 assault-related charges, including two counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault (M).

In Ohio studying for a doctorate in Psychology when charges laid (M)

1989:  “Saskatchewan’s Social Services Department cut funding and referrals to the Bosco homes in 1989 and the homes were closed, along with a ranch near Regina and a wilderness camp in northern Saskatchewan.”  (Ottawa Citizen 22 Apr. ’92)

1988 ?:  Released at least two Christmas recordings :   “Christmas with the Kids,” and “Caroling with the Kids.”  The following are excerpts from the back cover of the latter :

Some 17 years ago I founded Bosco Homes as a treatment centre for kids with serious emotional and mental problems.  Singing became [art f our therapy program.  Our youngsters found it relaxing and great fun!

Now as Boco Homes is expanding to Alberta, Manitoba and later B.C., we organize a variety of fund raising projects.  These include lotteries, the Big Valley Jamboree and the Big Valley Round-Up in Craven, Saskatchewan.  This recording is the beginning of a new series to involve other school kids in helping the Bosco kids.  “Kids helping Kids”  has a nice ring to it.  So the school children on my recordings volunteer their time to help the kids in treatment at Bosco Homes.  Therefore, after production costs all proceedings from this record go to help kids in need.

Dedication!

This recording is dedicated to our beloved Archbishop of Regina, the very Reverend Chares Halpin, D.D., a great supporter of Bosco Homes.  Since the earliest days at Bosco, Sister Helen Smaggus strummed her guitar and took our Bosco kids and staff carolling around Regina.  We went to various families, senior citizen homes but the tradition was soon established to end the tour at the Archbishop’s residence.  We never phoned to announce our visit but the good Archbishop would always find time to sit on the living room rug with the kids and join in the carolling with his beautiful tenor voice, while his gracious mother spoiled us all with French cookies, candies and Christmas treats

(External link)

1985-1986:  2915 Pasqua St., Regina (Was this the address of one of his Bosco Homes?) (CCCD)  (CCCD index indicates that he is incardinated in the Archdiocese of Regina)

1983:  received the Order of Canada for founding the Bosco Centres for emotionally disturbed and addicted adolescents.

organized the first Big Valley Jamboree, an annual fund-raiser (SN)

1975:  opened fourth Bosco Home in Regina (SN)

1971-1974:  Opened three Bosco Homes in Regina (SN)

1971:  founded and opened the first of Bosco Homes (M) a home for troubled teenagers.  The homes eventually expanded into Alberta (SN)

1973-74, 1971-72:  address for St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 2026 Winnipeg St. Regina, Saskatchewan (Pastor, Father E. Lequiea omi) (CCCD) still identified as an Oblate priest.

1969:  address for St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 2026 Winnipeg St. Regina, Saskatchewan (Pastor, Father H. Krawotz omi) (CCCD)  – still identified as an Oblate priest.

– formed the Miller Rovers, a 90 voice choir at Miller HS in Regina.

1967:  St. Thomas College, North Battleford, Saskatchewan (CCCD)  (St. Thomas College was adminutered by the Oblates)

 – Guidance Counsellor at Miller High School, a separate school in Regina, Saskatchewan (SN)

– teaching in Alberta (SN)

– attained M.A.s in guidance and counselling and comparative religion at universities in Ottawa and Alberta (SN)

1958:  ORDAINED as an Oblate priest (SN)

attained Bachelor in Philosophy in seminary in Battleford Saskatchewan

1937:  Polio

1932:  Born near St. Walberg, Saskatchewan, the youngest of 13 children (SN)

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Defence lawyer:  Defence lawyer Fred Kovach        Crown:   Al Johnston

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Brain-damaged boy’s parents put faith in controversial treatment

 CBC News Posted: Dec 17, 2013 5:30 AM CT    Last Updated: Dec 18, 2013 4:55 PM CT

By Donna Carreiro, 

CBC News: Winnipeg at 6:00

Brain-damaged boy’s parents put faith in controversial treatment

A Manitoba couple say they are living their worst nightmare, after their son was brain damaged. 2:06

 Neesh and Sandra Campbell don’t think they’re asking for a miracle, but mainstream medical experts think that’s what it would take to heal the brain of their beloved son, Dylan.

That is why the couple is turning to a therapy that’s experimental, expensive — and offered by a doctor not licensed to practice medicine.

“They say [Dylan] is in a brain-damaged state which means he’ll never come back,” Neesh Campbell says softly.

“Nobody’s ever given us hope.”

The Campbells’ struggles began four years ago when their son had a tonsillectomy at the Health Sciences Centre’s Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.

Neesh Campbell

Neesh Campbell stands at the bedside of his son, Dylan, who suffered a hypoxic ischemic brain injury four years ago. (Donna Carreiro/CBC)

It was supposed to be a routine procedure, but it was nothing of the sort. Five days later, the family says Dylan started bleeding. By the time they rushed him back to hospital, they say he was choking to death.

“My son said, ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.’ We kept, uh, wiping his blood up and whatnot — there’s blood on his shirt, there’s blood on that stretcher,” Neesh recalled.

“Then I got kind of mad there and … they had me thrown out of the hospital. And then the security guard came back outside to get me. My son passed away.”

Doctors managed to resuscitate Dylan, but by then the damage was done. He had lost so much oxygen that he suffered a “hypoxic ischemic brain injury,” according to an HSC medical assessment.

In other words, he can’t walk, talk, eat, control his movements or even swallow without the help of machines.

Grim prognosis

Legally, it remains to be determined why this happened. The family has sued the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and the case is still before the courts.

A WRHA spokesperson could not comment on the case or his condition, again, because it is before the courts.

In the meantime, Dylan’s prognosis is grim — but not, says his father, impossible.

“When he was laying there in a coma, I’ve seen a tear come out of his eye,” Neesh said.

“If anybody … doesn’t know nothing, they wouldn’t cry. When I hold his hand, I tell him to squeeze my hands. He squeezes them. They just say, ‘Well, it doesn’t mean nothing.’ Well, to me it means a lot.”

That’s why Neesh Campbell has spent the past four years searching for a treatment that could help his son. And he thinks he’s found it.

It’s called hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in which patients are repeatedly exposed to intense doses of almost pure oxygen.

It’s a well-documented and legitimate treatment, endorsed by Health Canada for a myriad of injuries. But it’s not approved for use to treat conditions like Dylan’s.

“Anoxic brain injury is not one of [the approved conditions] because there’s not been sufficient evidence produced to justify its use,” said Dr. David Harrison, director of the Vancouver General Hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen clinic.

“In the absence of credible literature, we don’t know who might be harmed and who might be benefited.”

Nothing to lose

Lucien Larre, however, begs to differ. Larre is a self-described “doctor” who heard about Dylan’s case and offered the services of the Advanced Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic in Coquitlam, B.C.

There, he says, Dylan stands a good chance of experiencing some improvement with this treatment.

Besides, Larre adds, they have nothing to lose.

“Sometimes statistics upset me,” Larre told CBC News.

“By golly, what if there’s a medication that comes out that only helps 10 per cent of the people, and your child is dying and happens to belong to that 10 per cent? I would love them to have that treatment.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by the clinic’s director, Ian Lamont.

“Generally, we see a 30 per cent improvement in these cases,” Lamont said, adding that he is certain Dylan will benefit from it.

Neesh Campbell agrees. In fact, he has so much faith in both Larre and the clinic that he has raised almost $4,000 to pay for the treatment himself.

Not medical doctors

The problem? Lucien Larre is not a medical doctor.

He’s actually a Roman Catholic priest who once ran a program in Saskatchewan for troubled teens — until he got into trouble for his controversial disciplining methods, although he was later pardoned.

And while he has a doctorate degree in psychology, the College of Psychologists of British Columbia stripped him of his licence back in 2007, pending an investigation into his competency.

As for Advanced Hyperbaric Oxygen Centre’s clinical director himself, Ian Lamont told CBC News that he too, has no medical expertise.

Instead, he said he is a “clinician,” and that one does not need a medical background to perform hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

It’s an assessment that concerns people like Harrison, who noted that as a licensed practitioner, he himself must adhere to the standards of both the College of Physicians and Surgeons and Health Canada.

“The real danger is that many of the private clinics … that are providing hyperbaric oxygen for this type of condition are largely unregulated, and one does not know the qualifications of the individual providing the hyperbaric oxygen,” he said.

“So there is risk for harm.”

It’s a medical second opinion that alarms Neesh and Sandra Campbell, both desperate for some treatment to help their son. However, they say it won’t dissuade them from seeking this therapy elsewhere.

“This is not about Dr. Larre,” Neesh said regarding Larre’s controversial credentials.

“This is about hyperbaric therapy. It’s about getting the one thing that might help my boy.”

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Controversial priest to return Order of Canada

CTV News    Vancouver
The Canadian Press
Published Friday, July 4, 2008 9:47PM PDT

A B.C. priest says he knew his controversial past would surface when he renounced his Order of Canada over the award being bestowed upon abortion rights doctor Henry Morgentaler.

But Father Lucien Larre says he had to speak out anyway.

“I have trouble with Dr. Morgentaler getting the Order of Canada,” Larre says.

He says giving Morgentaler the honour “degrades” it and for people who are opposed to abortion, “it’s nothing, it’s a worthless award.”

“I’m protesting the decision of the committee and I didn’t know any other way of doing it. Although I have tremendous respect for the Order of Canada I feel I have to return it,” Larre says.

The Catholic priest is no stranger to controversy himself.

He received the Order of Canada in 1983 for founding the Bosco Centres for emotionally disturbed and addicted adolescents.

But Larre was later convicted of assault and administering a noxious substance — convictions he says related to the high-risk youth he worked with, and he was eventually pardoned for both crimes.

And Larre candidly talks about sexual abuse allegations that arose against him when he worked in Regina many years ago, saying they were false allegations for which he was acquitted.

He says he has been haunted by the allegations ever since but that won’t stop him from speaking out about Morgentaler, who is due to be inducted into the Order of Canada for his work to repeal the country’s abortion laws and make the procedure a matter between a woman and her doctor.

“I no longer have a criminal record but it doesn’t matter, it keeps haunting me forever,” Larre says. “No matter where I go or what I do they say, oh, that’s the guy who used to abuse the children in Regina.”

He says he knew the matter would come up when he thrust himself into the spotlight over Morgentaler’s award.

“But I thought, I have to do it anyway.”

He says the assault charge stems from 1974, when he slapped a 19-year-old woman who was abusing drugs and breaking the law.

“Although it was wrong in hindsight, I never thought I was committing a criminal act at the time,” he says.

Fifteen years later he was charged.

He says the other charge of administering a noxious substance arose after he and a nurse pressured three teens to ingest a handful of unidentified vitamins, sugar pills and placebos in an effort to teach them a lesson about taking drugs.

“That’s a serious offence if you give somebody strychnine or a poison of some sort but this was totally different.”

As for the sexual abuse allegations, Larre points out that he was acquitted in a court of law.

“The kids who were accusing me of that were just doing it, trying to get a better deal. They were already in jail and so on and somehow they felt that if they said bad things about me, they would get brownie points.”

Morgentaler’s appointment to the Order of Canada garnered a similar reaction from Catholic officials.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver sent out a statement condemning the decision and urging those opposed to contact the Governor General’s office in protest.

Edmonton’s Catholic archbishop has also written to Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean asking that the decision to recognize Morgentaler be reversed.

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Psychologist’s case shows limits of law

Times – Colonist (Victoria, B.C.)

17 Sep 2007

Lindsay Kines;  Jeff Rud

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War criminal fit to face hearing, Crown argues

Vancouver Sun

01 April 2003

A Vancouver man convicted of 11 murders at a Nazi prison camp in Italy during the Second World War is mentally fit to face an extradition hearing, the Crown argued Monday.

There is no evidence Michael Seifert is suffering from a mental disorder, prosecutor Roger McMeans said during his final argument at a fitness hearing that which has dragged on for months.

He suggested Seifert, 78, has tried to portray himself as a feeble old man with a poor memory but has shown during interviews that he has clear memories of past and recent events.

McMeans also accused a defence witness, psychologist Lucien Larre, who is also Catholic priest, of not being impartial and objective. He suggested Larre may have become emotionally involved with Seifert, a devout Catholic, and his family.

The prosecutor argued Larre may have been biased and tried to help Seifert obtain lower psychological test scores to show Seifert was unfit to face an extradition hearing.

“He [Larre] failed the court in his duty to provide impartial and objective evidence,” McMeans told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly, who will rule today at the Vancouver Law Courts on whether Seifert is fit to face a hearing regarding extradition to Italy.

Larre testified Seifert suffers from damage to the frontal lobe of his brain, but the prosecution argued Monday that a computed tomography imaging (CT) scan showed no evidence of brain damage or dementia.

Seifert’s lawyer, Doug Christie, called Larre to show that Seifert suffers from cognitive impairment after falling on an icy sidewalk and hitting his head in 2001.

The defence contends that Seifert has the mental age of a five- year-old and a subnormal IQ of 65. Larre’s expert opinion was that Seifert is mentally unfit to face an extradition hearing because he doesn’t understand what is going on in court and cannot instruct Christie on complex legal issues.

Christie pointed out Monday that his client did not fabricate his condition.

“This was a serious head injury,” he said, noting that when his client’s head wound healed, Christine, his wife of 46 years, noticed her husband was not normal.

The prosecution suggested Monday that Seifert’s low IQ score reflects the fact that he has a Grade 3 education and a poor mastery of English; his first language is German.

Three years ago, Seifert was tried in absentia for raping, torturing and murdering 11 people at a Nazi camp at Bolanzo in northern Italy between December 1944, and April 1945.

Italy wants Seifert extradited to begin serving a life sentence imposed by three Italian judges, who found Seifert was not a “mere watchdog of the Nazi war machine” but a “ruthless [and] efficient dispenser of death.”

Seifert was invited to attend the trial in an Italian military court but failed to show, so he was tried in absentia.

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Ex-Nazi unable to plan defence against ouster, hearing told

Vancouver Sun

05 March 2003

David Hogben

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Committee waiting for possible Larre appeal

The Vancouver Sun

23 April 1993

REGINA – A committee responsible for the Order of Canada award has been made aware that one of its recipients, Father Lucien Larre, was convicted this week on charges of common assault and administering a noxious substance.

But the advisory committee will not consider the matter “until such time as the appeal process is complete,” Philip Kinsman, spokesman for the Governor General’s office in Ottawa, said Wednesday.

Larre, 59, received the prestigious award for his work with Bosco Homes for troubled youth, which he founded in the early 1970s.

Tuesday the Roman Catholic priest, once known as the saint of Saskatchewan for his work, was acquitted on nine of 11 assault-related charges arising from incidents with some of the youths in his care at Bosco Homes.

His lawyer says he will probably appeal one of the two convictions.

There is provision in the constitution that governs the order, allowing the award to be revoked when a recipient is convicted of a criminal offence, Kinsman said.

There is no precedent for that action.

There have been more than 3,000 appointments since the Order of Canada was created in 1967.

Kinsman noted that in at least one case, an individual with a criminal record has been invested with the award. He declined to name the recipient.

As well, “we have had our attention drawn to one other case currently before the courts.”

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Larre drops appeal

Toronto Globe and Mail

21 January 1993

Rev. Lucien Larre has dropped an appeal of his sentence for two assault- related convictions. Father Larre said he was abandoning the appeal because his criminal record will no longer bar him from pursuing graduate studies in the United States. Father Larre was found guilty of assaulting a young woman in his care and administering noxious pills to another. He was acquitted on nine other charges. CP

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Larre to seek erasure of record

Edmonton Journal

23 May 1992

 Canadian Press

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LARRE TRIAL: Saskatchewan’s ‘saint’ given ‘symbolic’ sentence

Ottawa Citizen

25 April 1992

Chris Wattie

REGINA — Rev. Lucien Larre, once called Saskatchewan’s saint for his work with troubled youth, was sentenced to a symbolic, one-day in jail Friday.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice C. Ross Wimmer handed the 59-year-old Roman Catholic priest a day in jail and $2,500 in fines for slapping and choking one resident of his homes for troubled youth and forcing another to take unidentified pills.

”The circumstances under which the offences are committed are a matter of concern,” the judge told a pale, shaken Larre. ”We trust that when our disturbed or disadvantaged children are placed in residential schools they will not be abused.

”Father Larre had absolute authority over these young people, they were altogether subject to his control and discipline . . . the actions resulting in the two convictions were an abuse of that authority.”

A seven-woman, five-man jury found Larre guilty Tuesday of one charge of common assault and one of administering a noxious substance. Larre had been accused of 11 assault-related charges, including one of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, but was acquitted on nine counts after a two-week trial.

Wimmer said the priest will not have to serve the one-day sentence — his time in court will be considered a day in custody — but Larre will now have a criminal record.

Larre was distraught when he emerged from the courtroom with a small knot of supporters. He said later he was happy the jury acquitted him on nine of 11 charges, and said he never intended to harm the Bosco residents.

”Like most parents, I was never a perfect dad, but I always tried to be the best possible dad I could be,” he said. ”I really believe in my heart I was a good dad for my kids, and I’ll always be proud of that.”

But Susan Morris, one of the nine former Bosco residents who accused Larre of beatings and abuse, was jubilant after the sentence was announced. ”I think it’s great — he has now got a criminal record,” she said.

”He’s never going to get another kid from the social services (department) — it was great.”

Larre was convicted of forcing Morris to take a handful of pills as punishment for using drugs when she was a 19-year-old resident of Bosco Homes. He was also convicted of assault for slapping and choking Bosco resident Debbie Preston.

Larre could have been jailed for up to six months on the assault conviction and up to two years for administering a noxious substance, but Wimmer said a lengthy term was not appropriate.

Fred Kovach, Larre’s lawyer, had argued for an absolute discharge in view of the priest’s lack of a criminal record, his age and his plans to continue studying for a doctorate in psychology in the United States.

But the judge said Larre should have set a better example. ”Exemplary conduct is expected from people of high stature,” Wimmer said.

”When that is not forthcoming and criminal convictions result, an exemplary sentence should follow . . . to abide misconduct by leaders is to invite it by followers.”

Kovach said outside the court that Larre is considering an appeal of the sentence and the convictions.

Larre, a former high school guidance counsellor, founded Bosco Homes in 1971 and ran the homes for troubled teenagers until 1984. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1983 and named Saskatchewan citizen of the year for his work.

The homes, named after St. John Bosco, a 19th century Italian priest who helped homeless boys, were closed after Saskatchewan’s Social Services Department cut funding and referrals in 1989.

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Priest apologizes to victims

Toronto Globe and Mail

24 April 1992

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Saskatchewan priest guilty on two charges of teen abuse

Toronto Star

Canadian Press

22 Apr 1992

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Bosco Homes founder guilty on 2 charges

Toronto Globe and Mail

22 April 1992

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Jury begins deliberation in assault trial of Bosco Homes founder

The Globe and Mail

21 Apr 1992

Canadian Press

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Two women testify priest grabbed them

The Vancouver Sun

09 Apr 1992 

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Priest ordered to stand trial

Edmonton Journal

13 Sep 1991

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Bosco Homes priest charged with assaults

The Windsor Star

03 May 1991

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Teen-homes founder faces abuse charges

Toronto Star

17 April 1991

CP

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SASKATCHEWAN: Priest painted as tyrant in assault trial

Ottawa Citizen

11 Apr 1992

REGINA (CP) — A week of often dramatic testimony wrapped up Friday at the assault trial of Rev. Lucien Larre, a man once hailed as the saint of Saskatchewan for his work with troubled youth.

”The case went about as we thought it would,” Crown prosecutor Al Johnston said outside the downtown Regina courthouse. ”The evidence came out as well as I thought it would, and better than I thought it might.”

Larre faces 11 assault-related charges, including one count of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. The charges arose from long-standing allegations of beatings and abuse at the Bosco Homes for troubled youth, which Larre founded in 1971.

The 59-year-old Roman Catholic priest was awarded the Order of Canada for founding Bosco Homes and was once named Saskatchewan’s citizen of the year.

But Crown prosecutors have painted a very different portrait of the stocky, round-faced Larre during four days of testimony in Court of Queen’s Bench.

Witnesses have testified that Larre was a violent, tyrannical man who beat and abused the young residents of his homes.

Eleven former Bosco residents took the stand this week, testifying that Larre punched, kicked or choked them during incidents dating as far back as 1973.

Ken Anderson, who was a 15-year-old Bosco resident in 1974, testified that Larre beat him with a diving flipper — hard enough to raise welts and cuts on his back that took more than a week to heal.

Susan Morris, 19 years old when she entered a Bosco home in 1975, told the court that Larre pinned her to the floor and forced pills down her throat as punishment for smoking marijuana.

She also testified that the priest slapped her in another incident, so many times that her face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition.

And two women, who cannot be identified by order of the court, testified that Larre grabbed and fondled their breasts in separate incidents.

Defence lawyer Fred Kovach has concentrated his cross-examinations on witnesses’ often inconsistent memories of the incidents and on their troubled personal histories.

Many admitted to emotional problems, often including suicide attempts or lengthy criminal records.

Kovach is to begin presenting the defence next week, but said Friday he has not yet decided if Larre will testify.

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Bosco Homes priest charged with assaults

The Windsor Star

03 May 1991

REGINA (CP) – Rev. Lucien Larre appeared shaken and subdued Thursday as he was formally charged with 14 assault-related charges, including two counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.

The Roman Catholic priest, once hailed as a near-saint for founding the Bosco Homes for troubled youths, faces nine counts of assault causing bodily harm. He also faces one count each of sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, indecent assault, overcoming resistance to commit an offence, and administering a noxious substance.

Lawyer Fred Kovach said Larre, who pronounces him name Larry, will plead not guilty. A preliminary hearing has been set for Sept. 9.

Larre returned this week from Ohio, where he has been studying for a doctoral degree in psychology, to face the charges.

Judge Dennis Fenwick released him without bail on condition that he have no contact with the alleged victims except through his lawyers.

Crown prosecutors said the charges involve eight males and four females. Their ages were not given but all were former residents of Bosco Homes.

THE CHARGES ALLEGE Larre struck, slapped and choked complainants, banged the head of one against a wall and beat others with belts or other objects. He is also accused of holding a pillow over a resident’s face and forcing pills down her throat.

Larre was awarded the Order of Canada and was once named Saskatchewan citizen of the year for his work with troubled teens.

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Bosco suing CBC for defamation

Edmonton Journal

30 January 1990

2 Responses to Larre: Father Lucien Larre

  1. Norman Wolf says:

    My friend, Garth Garver, was one of Larre’s many victims of physical and sexual abuse. Larre had the nerve in the early 1980s to try to convince my parents to donate their farm to him. He came with Ria Kaal. My parents had sold part of their farm to Craven Athletic Society for $2000 (less than the then-current value) so they could hold ball tournaments. Later they sold it to Larre and Bosco Homes and used the money to build a curling rink in Craven. Our former land was used for the Big Valley Jamboree and its successors, Rock in the Valley etc. Larre would have made a fortune if my father had been dumb enough to sign over the rest of his land, nearly a quarter-section. My parents later sold most of their remaining land to a Saskatoon dentist for a good chunk of money, more than enough to buy their retirement house in Lumsden. And then in 1984 after I graduated from high school, they sold the rest to friends of ours and bought their house in Lumsden, where they lived for more than ten years.

    Larre got off so easily, and the harm he did to dozens of kids was never exposed or acknowledged. He was a monster..

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