“Sex abuse report delayed in N.B. as more alleged victims come forward” & related articles

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CTV News

The Canadian Press

Published Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 12:21PM EST

Michel BastarachMichel Bastarache is shown in this file photo. (Jacques Boissinot / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

MONCTON, N.B. — A former judge says his final report on sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the Moncton, N.B., area will be delayed until at least March because more alleged victims are coming forward.

Michel Bastarache was hired last year by the Archdiocese of Moncton to conduct a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving a former priest from Cap-Pele.

The confidential process has since been expanded to hear complaints about any priests from the diocese.

Bastarache says he has already approved payments to about 50 people, ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 each.

The allegations that have been made have not been proven in a court.

The former Supreme Court of Canada justice says about 10 more people have decided to participate in the process including some people who had previously opted to take legal action.

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Moncton-area sex abuse report delayed after more alleged victims come forward

The Toronto Globe and Mail

MONCTON, N.B. — The Canadian Press

Published

Last updated

A former judge says his final report on sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the Moncton, N.B., area will be delayed until at least March because more alleged victims are coming forward.

Michel Bastarache was hired last year by the Archdiocese of Moncton to conduct a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving a former priest from Cap-Pele.

The confidential process has since been expanded to hear complaints about any priests from the diocese.

Mr. Bastarache says he has already approved payments to about 50 people, ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 each.

The allegations that have been made have not been proven in a court.

The former Supreme Court of Canada justice says about 10 more people have decided to participate in the process including some people who had previously opted to take legal action.

In December, the Moncton diocese removed two priests from any ministry work following allegations of sexual abuse of children.

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New Brunswick sex abuse report delayed

Metro News

28 January 2013

The Canadian Press

By Staff

MONCTON, N.B. – A former judge says his final report on sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the Moncton, N.B., area will be delayed until at least March because more alleged victims are coming forward.

Michel Bastarache was hired last year by the Archdiocese of Moncton to conduct a reconciliation and compensation process for alleged victims of sexual abuse involving a former priest from Cap-Pele.

The confidential process has since been expanded to hear complaints about any priests from the diocese.

Bastarache says he has already approved payments to about 50 people, ranging from $15,000 to $300,000 each.

The allegations that have been made have not been proven in a court.

The former Supreme Court of Canada justice says about 10 more people have decided to participate in the process including some people who had previously opted to take legal action.

In December, the Moncton diocese removed two priests from any ministry work following allegations of sexual abuse of children.

7 Responses to “Sex abuse report delayed in N.B. as more alleged victims come forward” & related articles

  1. Sylvia says:

    And here again I have a problem. Are those ‘about’ 50 victims who have already come forward ALL victims of either Father Camille Leger, Father Yvon Arsenault and/or Father Irois Despres? If yes, that’s an average of “about” 17 victims each? And, are the ‘about’ ten victims who are just now coming forward also victims of one of those three predators?

    If ‘no’ to any of the above, then which other priests were preying on children in the Archdiocese of Moncton? What are their names? Will those names be released, or, will this be like Bathurst NB where, barring victims speaking out apart from the conciliation process, the contents of the report and identities of molesters not yet publicly identified will be top secret?

    I am happy that victims have reached settlements. I am deeply concerned we will not hear a word about which priests have been identified as molesters. Nor will we hear a boo about which priests and/or bishops covered up for these priests. That can be done without violating a victim’s desire for anonymity.

    A situation such as this would never pass muster in Ireland. Never!

    • T says:

      I used to be dragged to Saint Augustines with my family where Arsenault gave mass. I never liked his mass (or any mass for that matter) and it disgusts me that I have shaken this man’s hand and spoken with him several times. When I heard about this, I wasn’t sure how to react; I can’t believe that I know one of these disgusting people. I hope he gets what he deserves.

  2. Mike Mc says:

    50 people getting between 15,000 and $300,000 each?!!! Where is the money coming from? Golden chalices or pew money? Rome? Church land sales? How did the Church get so rich? Quite the business!

  3. John says:

    Mike Mc…Good to see you back posting again, With this post and your question as to where the money comes from for these payouts, I suppose that now is a good time to post the following information re:Michel Bastarache and his meteoric rise in the justice system.

    Mr. Bastarache earned his BA from the University of Moncton at the age of 20 (1967). After a 4 year stint with the Province of New Brunswick he was hired by Assumption Mutual Life Insurance where he ended up as Assistant to the President.
    He went back to Ottawa University where he obtained his Bachelor of Law in 1978, and from there his star began to shine, finally ending up on the Supreme Court of Canada a short 21 years later, which he retired from in 2008.

    The following is part of the history of Assumtion Mutual…….”In 1913, la Société l’Assomption moved to Moncton. At this time, and for many years afterwards, the company was headed by members of the clergy, and many of the company’s scholarship recipients became brothers or priests.”

    So could the answer to your question as to where the money for the payouts come from be Assumption Mutual, that is, is Assumption Mutual the insurer for the diocese? Is Michel Bastarache still looped in with Assumption Mutual? Is the church in New Brunswick a major investor in Assumption Mutual?

    All questions to ponder…………

    John MacDonald

    • Sylvia says:

      Good question and good info John. Thank you! I will post some info on Assumption Mutuallater. I must find a way to put this info together in a spot which is perhaps more accessible to all. I don;t yet know where – still thinking on it 🙂

  4. JG says:

    John MacDonald,

    Hats off to you! Their is quite a link between Assumption and Michel Bastarache…
    He was President and Director from 1989 to 1994…Current director Denis Losier took over from himin 1994… Bastarache was there when a new investment firm started in 1991, ”Louisbourg Investment”…
    The victims of clergy, if Assumption is the insurer, were paid with their own investments, or their families investments over a hundred years: one nickle at a time!
    The clergy has been quite prominent as you said from the beginning right until….1969 and since I believe. The directors and ”connections” are a list of who is who in the ”Acadian” stratosphere!
    What a tangled web.
    What they are paying the victims isn’t even the crumbs from the table of this billion dollar ”association”…They are paying with their pocket change!…and everyone is grateful!…
    jg

  5. A victim says:

    Just to let you know, all money that is used to pay off the victims, from what I understand come from either the Diocese or from an insurance they had a while back just for this cause.

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