Eason: Father John Eason

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Priest, Archdiocese Vancouver, British Columbia. Ordained 1968.  1994 convicted of indecent assault on a 21-year-old woman in 1980.  In 1995 given a suspended sentence and placed on probation.

According to media, prior to conviction served in Vancouver at Holy Rosary Cathedral, St. John the Apostle’s parish, St. Anthony’s parish and St. Jude’s parish. He also served as chaplain at Shaughnessy, Grace and Children’s hospitals. While in Richmond BC Eason  served at St. Paul’s parish, as chaplain at Vancouver International Airport and at St. Monica’s parish.

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Archbishops of Vancouver from time of Father John Eason’s ordination:  Martin Michael Johnson † (11 March 1964 -08 January 1969 ); James Francis Carney  (08 January 1969 – 16 September 1990 ); Adam Joseph Exner, O.M.I. (25 May 1991- 10 January 2004); Raymond Roussin, S. M. (10 January 2004 – 2 January 2009); John Michael Miller, C.S.B.  (Coadjutor Archbishop: 1 Jun 2007 – Archbishop 02 Jan 2009 — )

Auxiliary Bishops:  James Francis Carney (07 January  1966  – installation as Archbishop 1969);  Lawrence Sabatini, C.S. (15 July 1978 – 30 September 1982)

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 The following dates are drawn from Canadian Catholic Directories (CCCD) of that date and media (M)

2011:  address for Holy Rosary Cathedral. “Apostleship of the Sea”, (Rector Father Glenn Dion) 

2010:   address for Holy Rosary Cathedral. “Apostleship of the Sea”, (Rector Father Glenn Dion) 

2002, 2000:   address for Holy Rosary Cathedral, “Apostleship of the Sea”,  (Rector Father James Comey)

1999, 1998:  address for Holy Rosary Cathedral, (Rector Father James Comey) (mission at St. Gerard, Bowen Island) (CCCD)

1997, 1996:  address for Diocesan Centre, Archdiocese of Vancouver, BC.   (CCCD)

1995: given a suspended sentence and placed on probation (M) 

May 1994charged (M) 

1994, 1992, 1991:  Pastor, St. Monica, Richmond, BC (CCCD)

1985-86:  1081 Burrand St., Vancouver, BC – address for St. Paul’s Hospital (CCCD)

1979 – 1982Powell River, British Columbia (M)

1973-74: St. Paul’s RC Church, Richmond, B.C. (Pastor Father Neil Carrigan) (CCCD)

1971-72:  St. Jude’s RC Church, Vancouver, B.C., (Pastor, Father. McInerney) (CCCD) 

1968ORDAINED

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Priest won’t be jailed for touching

Vancouver Province

31 August 1995

Clare Ogilvie

A priest who touched a woman’s breasts 15 years ago was given a suspended sentence yesterday and placed on probation.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice John Hall, who convicted Father John Eason last summer of indecent assault, described the priest’s behavior as “out of character.”

In sentencing Eason in Vancouver, Hall noted this was the only complaint ever made against the Roman Catholic priest. He also recognized Eason’s good works in 20 years with the church.

But Hall said Eason still had to pay a price for the 1980 assault because it was a breach of trust.

The incident occurred while Eason was counselling the then-21- year-old Powell River complainant.

The court heard that three days after the assault Eason went to the complainant’s home and apologized to her and to her mother.

He thought that was the end of it but two years ago the complainant went to police to ensure it never happened again and to ask that Eason go into counselling.

The 52-year-old priest has not performed any chaplain’s duties since the charges were laid.

The judge recommended he attend a counselling program while on probation.

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Richmond priest on indecent-assault rap

Vancouver Province

27 May 1994

Charlie Anderson

A Richmond Catholic priest and Children’s Hospital chaplain was charged yesterday with indecent assault of a Powell River woman in 1979-80.

Father John Eason, 52, who left Powell River in 1982, was most recently pastor of St. Monica’s in Richmond. He also was chaplain at Shaughnessy, Grace and Children’s hospitals and chaplain at Vancouver airport.

Archbishop of Vancouver Adam Exner said he was “distressed that one of our priests is facing a criminal charge.”

“We have a policy in this country that someone is innocent unless proven guilty and I would hope that applies in this case.”

Exner said the archdiocese learned of the alleged assault late last year. Eason ceased his parish ministry and chaplain’s duties at that time.

The woman was 21 at the time of the alleged assault.

Police say the charge relates to the law as it was in 1979. It distinguished between rape — forcible sexual intercourse — and indecent assault, which didn’t involve intercourse.

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Catholic priest accused of indecently assaulting woman 14 years ago

Vancouver Sun

27 May 1994

DOUGLAS TODD

Vancouver Roman Catholic Archbishop Adam Exner is distressed and praying for all concerned after one of the priests in his diocese was charged with indecently assaulting a woman.

Father John Eason, 52, who most recently served at St. Monica’s church in Richmond, was charged in connection with an alleged incident during the time he served as a priest in Powell River 14 years ago.

The complainant was 21 years old at the time.

“We’re very public about it being distressing for everyone. We pray for all who are involved,” the archbishop’s representative, Father Donald Larson, said Thursday.

“The archdiocese will cooperate respectfully with the civil authorities,” Exner said in a written statement.

Eason left Powell River in 1982. He has served in Vancouver at Holy Rosary Cathedral, St. John the Apostle’s parish, St. Anthony’s parish and St. Jude’s parish. He was also chaplain at Shaughnessy, Grace and Children’s hospitals.

In Richmond, Eason served at St. Paul’s parish, as chaplain at Vancouver International Airport and at St. Monica’s parish.

“The archdiocese had not received any information or complaint concerning {Eason} until late last year, during the course of the police investigation,” Exner said in his statement.

“As soon as we were informed of the investigation, Father Eason ceased his parish ministry and hospital chaplaincy.”

Eason is currently living in Vancouver awaiting legal developments.

Larson said Eason, who was raised in Greater Vancouver, has many friends within the church who are concerned about him.

Powell River RCMP Const. Sean Murphy said police are encouraging anyone else with complaints about Eason to come forward.

The last Vancouver-based priest charged with sex crimes was Father George Gordon.

In 1992, at age 77, Gordon was sentenced to six months in prison for indecently assaulting three males when they served as altar boys at Holy Rosary Cathedral in the 1950s.

The three men reported the molestation incidents to police after confronting Gordon in 1989. They became frustrated when then-archbishop James Carney did not do enough to seek out and assist Gordon’s other victims.

25 Responses to Eason: Father John Eason

  1. Carrie says:

    My sister and I went to St. Monica’s parish with my grandmother often (sometimes daily bc my grandma’s a die-hard). My sister was between 7-10 years old and I was between 5-8 years old. Father John was a good man, always kind to us. I was looking him up to see if he was still in Vancouver because I am making a trip up there and I haven’t seen him in years. I don’t disbelieve this incident, however, I would like to say that upon reading it, I was initially shocked, and surprised that anyone would say that of him. But still, the man is human. I’m sorry if my saying that offends anyone here. I just know how he was with my sister and I (and we did spend time alone with him), and it makes me want to defend him to the bitter end because he was so good to us. I believe that if this incident happened, I know that him going to the home of the mother and daughter to apologize must also be true, because that is the only thing I could see him doing. If he was ever capable of hurting someone, he would be there immediately afterward to apologize. There is so much good in him. I just hope no one makes a website to log every bad thing I’ve done in my life.

    • Tim says:

      Carrie,
      I encourage you to defend this priest based on your personal experiences with him as a child. There are cases, though not many, where a few sued the church or priest for money. Prehaps this case against this (good) priest also may be of that kind. All the best for your effort.

      • Sylvia says:

        He was convicted by a B.C. Supreme Court Justice Tim.

        Never forget: A thief doesn’t rob every house on the block. It is flawed logic to assume that because Eason never laid a wayward hand on Carrie and her sister he never laid a wayward hand on anyone.

  2. Sylvia says:

    I think Carrie that you will offend a lot of people with a statement like that.

    • Jason says:

      Carrie,

      I think I can understand what you are trying to say. Sounds like you and your family had a positive, affirming and overall beneficial relationship with the person in question whereas only recently have you discovered other allegations which shock your understanding and perhaps seem like barbs against your image and history of the individual. The question, I suppose is, whether it is possible to incorporate your personal experience while juxtaposed against these new revelations. This I believe is an entirely personal quandary which each person may struggle with but needs to be settled only for themselves. For example, a doctrine I find interesting and often employed, is the notion of hating the sin but loving the sinner. A concept often used to square the round peg for an individual to work past conflicts in relationships. Similarly but yet in a different context, I believe many individuals have gone through a similar conflict with their relationship not with any individual, but with the church itself. It is not an easy thing to attempt to square and for many the manner in which they choose to resolve this conflict has resulted in a wide variety of ways.

      Finally, a mere comment, there is no right not to be offended …. though civil and polite society should encourage tasteful yet honest dialogue. My fear is that since internet blogs sadly seem targets for much too much intentionally provocative and poisonous speech, I only hope that that speech which conveys an opinion or thought contrary to one’s own, perhaps even unsettling, is not censored in cases where it is not warranted.

  3. 1 abandoned sheep says:

    Jason, THE man for all seasons.

  4. Monika says:

    Father Eason is a good and kind man. One mistake in 42 years does not a snake make. I have made hundreds of mistakes in my life. I’m with Carrie…I hope no ones makes a web site about me because it soon would be full.
    We do not know the circumstances of this case other than it was with an adult woman and a single claimed incident. If you only knew this man……this Priest…..this human being with so much compassion. He would forgive you for your sins….his one sin of touching an adult woman’s breasts ……………he has paid dearly for his mistake. Do not make him out to be some sort of deviant because he is NOT! He is not some sort of serial sex-offender. I trust Father Eason. He deserves that trust.

  5. Monika says:

    And Tim, I applaud you for your comment. There ARE those out there who jumped on this bandwagon for one reason and one reason only….money. I’m not saying this is one of those cases because I don’t know. What I do know is a wonderful person in John Eason.

  6. Jack says:

    In the same way we do not know the details of the situation between the victim and father john, nor do we know if this was motivated by money. To bring this concept up numerous times feels a bit too defensive – especially when a conviction was handed down by the BC Supreme Court. Blind faith seems to come to mind.

  7. Gloria says:

    *I really believe the clergy, especially in the West, where there is minimal discomfort to their life-style, and no real suffering and persecution, can give in to the temptation of living too easy a life. It’s not like any serious Christian can afford the luxury of getting lax, and not staying vigilant, and aware of the snares set for him by the world, the flesh and the devil. Priests are human. They are also in a tremedous position of trust over their flock. If they allow themselves to become underworked and overfed, of course their celibacy will be challenged. So what’s wrong with fasting when you’re tempted, and what’s wrong with taking on a heavy work schedule that involves some real challenges to your personal comfort if it helps you to stay true to your vocation? People are different in terms of how sexually passionate their nature happens to be. If you  have a passionate nature it must be a tremedous cross to be celibate. Passionate people in religious life really must be aware of this to avoid disaster for themselves, and harm to those they serve.

  8. 1yellowknife says:

    Gloria: Attributing sexual abuse and  the horrendous abuse of power  described here to “a passionate nature” is a nauseating excuse for criminal behaviour.   Are you nuts?

  9. Michel Bertrand says:

    Don’t care for the tenets of Opus Dei and I agree with my northern friend. In my mind it is very clear that a line exist between indulgent spoiled brats (many priests are more the a pulpit away from people’s suffering and offer only canned care) and criminals who target children for their own selfish perversions..horrendous and nauseating is to put it lightly. The RC church is SNAFU

  10. Mike says:

    *Gloria;
         I don’t understand what you mean in your reference to “passionate people”. Your statement appears to say to me that it’s okay to commit criminal sexual acts if you are “Passionate”.
         “Celibate” means exactly that, “celibate” Please look it up in the dictionary. There is no gray area here!
         Sincerely passionate people do not do these sick, criminal acts. Love in my world means the total giving of one’s self to another, or to others. It does NOT mean destroying the life of a child just for the sexual gratification of a priest when he feels “passionate”!!!   Mike.

  11. Gloria says:

    *Hey, slow down, everybody! My thoughts were centered on this particular priest, and what he did, not on the ones who continue with much worse abuse all of their lives! For those the only end to their sickness appears to be the grave. They need to be punished by the law, and they need to be defrocked, and put on the registry of sex offenders, abiding by its restrictions like any other serious criminals. It is an absolute outrage to see them shuffled around, anonymous in some unsuspecting community, and continuing to wear the Roman collar, and the power and trust it implies, free to go and do what they will. How does the Catholic system manage to keep the convicted ones out of the sex offender registry anyway?? That would bear looking into. I’m with everyone else, on this topic, and not just because y’all are upset with me. Fr.Eason’s obviously not a pedophile. By all accounts he slipped once. In my mind I am wondering if he could have avoided that slip if he had been more self aware, and his name would not now be on this page. Like some other folks here, my impression of him was impressive indeed, before I read his story. As for passion, it is an indisputable fact that the intensity of the human sex drive varies from person to person. Some will be more tempted than others if put to the test. I was just meaning to suggest that Fr.Eason might benefit from fasting and prayer, and corporal works of mercy, especially with the derelicts and druggies on the East Side of Vancouver. And from avoiding counseling attractive young girls, one on one.

  12. Leona says:

    Interesting, there seems to be a big gap in his resume. Where was he between 1986 & 1991? Is that just an oversight, or worth investigating?

  13. Leona says:

    I’m also curious about all of his short assignments. That was pretty unusual for a diocesan priest in Vancouver at that time.

  14. Sylvia says:

    Leona, the gaps in resumes are gaps in the information which I have on hand (CCCDs) or which I can find in media coverage or online, or which is passed on to me by readers.   I add the information which is in a directory (CCCD) for that date (i.e., 1985-86) , so the only for sure is that in or around that year the priest was at that location/church/diocese/address.   If I don’t have access to a CCCD for the following year or years (i.e., 1986-1991) and have no information which tells me he was still there or had moved, I can only indicate what I know, i.e., that his address in the ’95-’85 directory was that of the hospital in Vancouver, and in the ’91 directory was that of St. Monica’s in Richmond.  I don’t have ready access to directories for the intervening years and was unable to find information which tells me where he was or might have been for those years.  So, the gap in those years is nothing sinister and is due only to my inability to get further information. 

    If anyone has info re the whereabouts of Father Eason or any priest on the site for those “gap” years please pass it along. I am reliant on your assistance to make these profiles as complete and accurate as possible:)

  15. Gloria says:

    *Oops, sorry, spelling mistake. That should’ve been ‘corporeal’ works of mercy…

    I know any sort of physical penance is no longer the trend within  the Church. But one wonders if it doesn’t have merit just the same. Looking at the Saints, the Nuns in St.Therese’s time and place were taking the discipline, and the Poor Clares amd cloisterd orders like them, still fast during certain liturgical seasons. St.Francis of Assisi is reputed to have rolled in the brambles to keep ‘Brother Ass’ in line…

    I find it interesting that two of the priests on this site are or have been employed as chaplains in local Catholic old age homes. One is Fr.Eason, the other, who has been moved, is Fr.McIntee. I used to attend Mass at the old age home where Fr.McIntee worked. He was a very charming priest, lots of charisma, good preacher, great in Confession. After he’d said Mass he would go up to every wheelchair at the back of the chapel, speaking fondly, and kindly to the patients, comforting them.

    When the gossip about him having sexually abused a boy, and having been jailed for it, began to fly, I refused to believe it at first. No way could that be true. My ‘informed’ woman friend insisted that it was. All of a sudden, Fr.McIntee disappeared, supposedly to Ontario, (which apparently was not true) and with him went the regular Mass schedule at that Catholic old age home. On one occasion, I turned up hoping there would be Mass that day, but no such luck. However, there happened to be a Nun who came into the Chapel, and I chatted her up, lamenting the loss of Fr.McIntee, and bringing up the topic of the sex conviction. Her reply was, “yeah, and it only happened ONCE! And he was SO sorry that it happened.” On this site, here, I read Fr.McIntee abused not one boy but seventeen of them!

    It looks like the Church tends to act like a dysfunctional family where abuse of any sort is denied or minimized, or the victim is blamed for it. The tendency is towards denial, especially when one has not been personally hurt by a particular abuser, and often they can be disarmingly charming, intelligent, and well-spoken. Like all of us they are a mix of good and bad qualities. However, in their case one must learn  to overlook their good qualities because they perpetrate such incredible harm on their victims, warping their young lives forever.

    I’m talking to myself, here. Men that sick should never be allowed to remain Catholic priests! Does anyone really believe Our Lord Jesus would keep them if He had any say in it? Our Hierarchy are supposed to be His servants. They will have a lot to answer for, for letting Him down this way, and allowing His most beloved young lambs to continue to be ravaged by wolves.

     

  16. John says:

    Gloria: I am really trying hard to get a handle on you and your thought process. Below are some  lines from your previous posts…..

    “Fr.Eason’s obviously not a pedophile. By all accounts he slipped once. In my mind I am wondering if he could have avoided that slip if he had been more self aware, and his name would not now be on this page.”

    He slipped? Is that what you would tell his victim? One slip, two stumbles, three falls, where is the cut off line for you? Is it somewhere around the seventeen victims of Father McIntee? The same Father McIntee that you found so charming and caring. These predatory priests gave up all rights to respect the very second that a demented thought turned to action. Should we hold them to a higher standard? ABSOLUTELY!!!! They want us to, they expect us to and if they do, then they had better damn well live up to “their calling”.

    “I was just meaning to suggest that Fr.Eason might benefit from fasting and prayer, and corporal works of mercy, especially with the derelicts and druggies on the East Side of Vancouver. And from avoiding counseling attractive young girls, one on one.”

    The above comment of yours sickens me…As I read this, instead of a meal of one attractive course, you would rather him have a $4.99 buffet of not so attractive courses, is that it? 

    “The tendency is towards denial, especially when one has not been personally hurt by a particular abuser, and often they can be disarmingly charming, intelligent, and well-spoken. Like all of us they are a mix of good and bad qualities. However, in their case one must learn  to overlook their good qualities because they perpetrate such incredible harm on their victims, warping their young lives forever.”

    Is this the same Gloria writing that wrote the above mentioned quotes? If it is, then you just did a comple 180 degree turn.  

    “Men that sick should never be allowed to remain Catholic priests! Does anyone really believe Our Lord Jesus would keep them if He had any say in it? Our Hierarchy are supposed to be His servants. They will have a lot to answer for, for letting Him down this way, and allowing His most beloved young lambs to continue to be ravaged by wolves.”

    Then again…..Father Eason “slipped” BUT just once.

    John MacDonald

  17. Gloria says:

    *Dear John,

    I can understand your anger. However, you are not playing fair by suggesting that I would want F.Eason to abuse the poor creatures in a drug infested inner city area, instead of actually doing genuine charitable good works! I do believe that priest is capable of genuine charity, even if you don’t, and other comments, here, in his favor, bear me out!

    I think you are giving in to an urge to lose some of your anger on a bystander, and you are accusing me of things never intended or even expressed, warping my meaning to suit your needs. That in itself is a form of abuse.

     

  18. Gloria says:

    *It IS a different experience when you know a priest personally. When you are not in the know, and you only experience the individual as a wonderful, competent cleric, it is harder to accept the truth when it is presented to you. I believe that is precisely the reason so many of the superiors in the hierarchy failed so abysmally in doing a proper clean-up job with pedophile priests! Abusive priests present themselves as mellow, competent, charming, sociable, good ‘company men,’ golfing buddies, long time friends. Some tired elderly ‘Monsignor Administrator’ may NOT be excused for getting stuck in denial about a pleasant fellow priest such as this, but I bet that is exactly how it happened…But this site, and the news it shares, is proof that there is hope for a better future.

  19. Monika says:

    *Having read carefully the above, I have come to the conclusion that there are those writing here that are angry, mentally ill people.  I defend Father Eason.  He is not a Pedophile, he has not and never was accused of any misgivings with children.  He was accused by an ADULT female and you call him a sick man?  Look in the mirror  perfect…oh so perfect ones.  I think the glass house you live in has some chips in it. And Leona, before you cast doubts and suspicions get you FACTS STRAIGHT.   I have to go stick my finger down my throat now…..some of you make me sick because it looks like you like to read what you have written without the benefit of actual thought or content.  I said Some!!!!  

  20. Tony says:

    I know Fr. Eason personally. I am surprised that this incident is still on the site. Fr. Eason is a very good and holy man. He never mentioned to me about the incident. I myself learnt from other source what had actually happened in 1980: During the counselling session, the woman herself opened her cloth and asked Fr. Eason to touch her breast, which she claimed to be very warm because of her emotion. Fr. Eason did what the woman asked him without thinking much, and years later the woman complained against him. Fr. Eason has been accepting humiliations humbly for years. May the Lord comfort him for all that he had gone through!

  21. M says:

    Ha ! Any one who would believe this story would have to be naive . Sounds like a story concocted to cover up his guilt , in case the woman complained. An old standard used by men for a long, long time – blame her before she blames me.

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