Ex-priest charged in Canada boy’s sex abuse

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Houston Chronicle

June 21, 2010, 11:34PM

By ALLAN TURNER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE

A retired Catholic priest who taught math and coached basketball at Houston’s St. Thomas High School half a century ago has been charged with sexually abusing a schoolboy in Canada.

Charged with sexual assault, an offense that could bring a maximum 10-year prison sentence upon conviction, is Basilian priest William Hodgson Marshall, 87.

Canadian authorities said the alleged attack happened between 1981 and 1985 in Windsor, Ontario. Records for the case are sealed, and court officials would not comment on the location, date or nature of the incident. Marshall’s attorney did not return phone calls.

In Houston, the Rev. Richard Wahl, who processes claims of sexual impropriety lodged against Congregation of St. Basil priests, said Marshall taught math and coached basketball at St. Thomas High School in the 1956-57 school year.

The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Canada-based spokesman for the international order, said no complaints against Marshall have been lodged in Houston.

The charge stemming from the Windsor case was filed in May. Marshall, who lives at a Toronto retirement home for priests, is set to appear in court July 14.

In Sudbury, Ontario, in 2002, Marshall was sued by a man who sought money for psychological counseling, contending that the priest had sexually assaulted him in the 1960s. The complainant was awarded $10,000 after Marshall and the school district for which he had worked presented no defense, according to the Sudbury Star newspaper.

Marshall held a variety of teaching and administrative school positions, primarily in Canada, during a career that spanned four decades. In 1993, he moved to the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, where he worked as a missionary. He formally retired in 1997.

The legal action against Marshall moved forward as Pope Benedict XVI this month asked forgiveness from abuse victims and pledged to “do everything possible” to end pederasty among the Roman Catholic priesthood.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments 

(0)

Tyr wrote:

The Catholic church has been a criminal enterprise since the 5th century. I wonder what really happened to all those children the church used to claim to have been victims of jewish night rituals?

6/22/2010 1:21:47 PM

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(0)

SarahTX2 wrote:

And here we have Mr. Squirt, who doesn’t believe the boy was raped. What a surprise. Tell us more about stubbing your toe back in the 60’s, Mr. Squirt.

6/22/2010 10:52:19 AM

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(23)

Mephitis wrote:

What mystifies me is why people still give to this greedy empire. The Catholic Church has had such a negative influence on the history of the world. Still, the sheep give and give to this insatiable host. “God’s will?” I seriously doubt it. So, keep giving money to this criminal enterprise. Let the Church continue to bask in the wealth it has amassed from the trail of debauchery . It sickens me. And, now, the pope is a German who used to be a Nazi youth? Finally, they have elected someone with the face of love.

6/22/2010 10:32:24 AM

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(0)

SarahTX2 wrote:

The Rev. Richard Wahl has an interesting job – he processes claims of sexual impropriety lodged against Congregation of St. Basil priests. What a busy day he must have. He probably does think that raping a child is a mere “impropriety” and has a devil of a time convincing other people of that.
Is this priest, Marshall, Canadian? What’s he doing in Canada?

6/22/2010 10:24:57 AM

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(51)

dbeck wrote:

houtex77 wrote:
These people just want money. They are cashing in on all of this publicity.
===============
I agree. If you were so traumatized this should have come to light a long LONG time ago. Greedy people really tick me off.

6/22/2010 9:54:24 AM

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(35)

OutlawJoseyWales wrote:

As we find out more and more about child sex abuse by priests, we are finding many similarities to child sex abuse committed by law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers have a “dirty little secret”. Indeed, the fact is that there are more incidents of child sexual assault committed by Police Officers than could ever be attributed to members of all other professions combined. They use their positions of trust to violate our children. Be careful, very careful when teaching your children to trust those in law enforcement. Pay particular attention to the last link, he is being held without bail on suspicion of being a serial killer just like John Wayne Gacy. These cases are just from the last couple of months:
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Boise ID cop gets plea deal to 1 count sexual battery of a minor after confessing to molesting at least 4 infants: http://is.gd/cM0dB
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Bibb County GA deputy sentenced to 20yrs prison after caught in FBI sting for trying to solicit sex w/7yr old girl: http://is.gd/cLRH9
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New York NY Sanitation Police officer’s request to take back plea for molesting 2 teens denied, sentenced to 8yrs prison: http://is.gd/cLLCG
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Cypress CA cop arrested on suspicion of oral copulation w/child under 10 after female relative alleges she was molested: http://is.gd/cKKc5
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Monroe County FL deputy fired & charged with furnishing alcohol to 15yr-old boy then fondling him after showing him porn: http://is.gd/cKva9
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College of Lake County IL cop sentenced to 10yrs prison for molesting underage girl then harassing her while out on bail: http://is.gd/cKpv8
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Norwalk CT police lieutenant takes plea deal in case involving sex w/2 teen boys & seduction of 3rd, gets 30days jail: http://is.gd/cJ4UB
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Ohio State Univ OH police officer arrested by SWAT team on gross sexual imposition charges involving a 6yr old girl: http://is.gd/cJ2Kf
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Racine WI police officer convicted on 7 charges for abusing teen girl and forcing her to have sex: http://is.gd/cIhq5
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Ocean Springs MS police lieutenant arrested on possession of child pornography charge: http://is.gd/cHnGV
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Tacoma WA police officer charged w/3 counts 1st degree child molestation involving female relative since she was 5yr old: http://is.gd/cqDEo
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Kennet Square PA cop suspended after arrested on 100’s of sex offense charges including rape, incest, and statutory rape: http://is.gd/csJn7
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Beaverton OR police officer investigated on allegations he failed to report convicted friend for sexually abusing minors: http://is.gd/cso7X
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Louisiana State trooper indicted on 3 counts indecent behavior w/juvenile after hospital examined teen for sexual abuse: http://is.gd/cqYAx
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Hawaii deputy sheriff to face 1yr jail after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting 1st grader niece for 4yrs: http://is.gd/cqM2K
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Albany GA police officer found guilty of molesting his girlfriend’s 7yr old daughter: http://is.gd/cpsue
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Virginia Beach VA police officer arrested on indecent liberties w/child and contributing to delinquency of minor charges: http://is.gd/cmyWN
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Webster Parish LA deputy indicted in TX on aggravated sexual assault to child & 1 count indecent contact w/child: http://is.gd/cmhIW
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Paola KS police officer arrested on aggravated indecent liberties with a child charge, alleged victim was a relative: http://is.gd/cjU2Y
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Nogales AZ police officer charged with having sexual conduct with a 16yr old after investigation into complaint: http://is.gd/cfqZf
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Jackson County GA deputy fired on allegations that he had “inappropriate contact” with 16yr old, no criminal charges: http://is.gd/cfziy
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Chesapeake VA police officer arrested on “use of communication system to facilitate offenses involving children” charge: http://is.gd/cdIcq
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Miami-Dade FL police officer arrested on charges of sexual battery & molestation of a 13yr old girl in his care for 3yrs: http://is.gd/c3CgH
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Madison NJ police detective arrested for exposing self on webcam to undercover cop he throught was a 13yr old girl: http://is.gd/c4Enw
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West Memphis AR cop gets suspended sentence in plea deal for getting underaged girls drunk and molesting them: http://is.gd/c5a2m
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Minneapolis Parks MN police chief facing 2 criminal sexual conduct charges accused of molesting 17 other kids: http://is.gd/bYLWn
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Houston County AL sheriff’s chaplain sentenced to 30yrs after pleading guilty to sex crimes involving teenage girl: http://is.gd/bue4E
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Cook County GA sheriff’s investigator arrested for allegedly molesting 14 and 15yr old girls at his home: http://is.gd/bukR1
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US Capitol police officer arrested on charges of possession and distribution of child pxxxxxxxxy: http://is.gd/bvKVA
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Mississippi State trooper facing 4 counts of child sexual battery after acquitted last month on five related charges: http://is.gd/bvZTH
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Welsh LA cop arrested on allegations of child trafficking for sexual purposes & 2 counts indecent behavior w/juvenile: http://is.gd/bwc3Z
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Bingen-White Salmon WA cop has child molestation charges dropped due to law that prevents conviction on confession alone: http://is.gd/bwm2A
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Collier County FL deputy arrested on allegations that he had sex with 15yr old boy in a mall bathroom while on-duty: http://is.gd/bzL3C
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Las Vegas NV police officer takes plea deal for molesting 13yr old girl and for possession of child pxxn: http://is.gd/bzO59
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Cottage Grove OR police officer sentenced to 5yrs prison after pleading guilty to possessing over 600 child pxxn images: http://is.gd/bBrgh
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Carl Junction MO police officer arrested for possession of chld pxxxxxphy after probe into his chat sessions with minor: http://is.gd/bD09F
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Ilion NY police officer sentenced to probation for child endangerment, accused of inappropriately touching teen boy: http://is.gd/bCnyZ
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Florala AL police officer sentenced to “sex offender probation” in plea deal over 2006 “To Catch A Predator” arrest: http://is.gd/bBzK4
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Charleston SC cop arrested in 2004 for molesting 10yr old on national most wanted list after disappearing before trial: http://is.gd/aXhei
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Independence LA police officer arrested for carnal knowledge of a juvenile and other sex-related charges: http://is.gd/aXbhx
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Buffalo NY cop sentenced to 1yr for molesting student, convicted for assault & gun charges in other incidents: http://is.gd/aWVWF
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Houston County AL sheriff’s chaplain indicted on multple charges for sexually assaulting teen, may enter plea deal: http://is.gd/aVwyJ
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Rutland VT police officer to face false reporting & neglect of duty charges after probe into child pxxn on PD computer: http://is.gd/aUVg7
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Omaha NE police officer sentenced to 1 year after convicted of online enticement of a 14yr old girl in chat room: http://is.gd/aTtAG
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Robbins IL police officer convicted on 4 counts of child molestation for sexually abusing his 9yr old cousin for years: http://is.gd/aTm2o
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Sacramento County CA deputy sentenced to 18yrs prison after pleading guilty to taking 13yr old girl to hotel to have sex: http://is.gd/aT9Ry
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Joplin MO police officer charged w/possession of child pxxn for nude pics of his 17yr old girlfriend on cellphone: http://is.gd/aT0U4
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California Highway Patrol Lieutenant sentenced to 1yr jail for attempted molestation after caught by child luring sting: http://is.gd/aPmj8
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2 Cleveland TN cops already in jail on drug-related charges now charged w/statutory rape of a minor by authority figure: http://is.gd/aO7lm
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Police Officer held without bail whose emails graphically describe sexually torturing and murdering young boys: http://xrl.us/bg2spy

6/22/2010 9:54:21 AM

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(28)

houtex77 wrote:

These people just want money. They are cashing in on all of this publicity.

6/22/2010 9:17:20 AM

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(3)

grenchy wrote:

squirt 77084: Victims usually forget trauma as this for yrs until something triggers that memory. I was a victim of such and I did not remember until 25+ yrs later. Remember, the old Riverview Baptist Church off Telephone Rd off I-45. There was a bus driver named Robert. He is most likely dead now. If he had children I hope they read my post. I also wasn’t his only victim. My closest friend remembered about the same time. I didn’t sue though, becuase he is most likely dead.

6/22/2010 7:39:00 AM

(3)

prlary wrote:

Here we go…turn him over to the boys…that piece of crap !!!

6/22/2010 6:17:02 AM

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(9)

Dave10318 wrote:

Imagine that another pedophile priest. When is the catholic church going to do a legitimate investigation? They need to quit worrying about protecting the church and start protecting the children. The church is corrupt from the bottom up. Any moron that defends the church is part of the problem. The catholic church has destroyed so many lives throughout the world. What’s with all these saints, that is idol worship. The only ones that can help is the Lord and Jesus Christ, not some person the church made a doll or a statue of. The pose is going to end pederasty, my a**, he protected them for years as did the pope before.

6/22/2010 5:31:36 AM

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(0)

Squirt77084 wrote:

40 years later?
Where as this guy been since the 1960’s ? Under a rock.
Hey, I think I recall stumbing my toe back in 1960’s, too. Can I sue my school now?
Give me a break, this guy just wants to collect a check and all of the Catholic bigots just want to destoy the Church because they can’t defend their lifestyle.

6/22/2010 4:40:27 AM

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(145)

CHAYIL714 wrote:

This is the SAME pope who excommunicated a 7 year old girl (after becoming pregnant after being continuously raped by her stepfather) had an abortion because her body could not continue with pregnancy. In the meantime, they gave the stepfather repentance “for his sins”, but others they do not. Pedophiles, especially the priests, deserve no repentance. The catholic church is so out of touch with reality, that when Jesus does come back, they are going to require him to take holy communion.

6/22/2010 3:28:38 AM

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(111)

truthliberates wrote:

Pedophiles are always pedophiles. They cannot be rehabilitated. My father was still molesting little girls when he was 70. Sadly none of his victims or parents of his victims would press charges, and when I was emotionally able to deal with the abuse I received from my father, I was beyond the statute of limitations and could do nothing but be vocal in hopes that he would not destroy the lives of other children. As for my siblings and mother, they all could care less whose lives my father destroyed, told me I was on a witch hunt and disowned me. Even worse, they continued to give my father access to their daughters and grand-daughters. What a legacy. I have to wonder how many of the males in my extended family grew up to be pedophiles too.

6/22/2010 2:10:55 AM

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