Priest, Diocese of Chicoutimi, Quebec. Ordained 11 June 1960. Guilty plea 1992 to sex abuse of three boys between the years 1980 and 199i – two of his victims were age 17 when the abuse began and one was age 13. Sentenced to 18 months in jail and two years probation.
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Bishops of the Diocese of Chicoutimi from the time of Father Lebel’s ordination: Georges-Arthur Melançon † (24 May 1940 – 11 February 1961); Marius Paré (18 February 1961 – 05 Apr il1979); Jean-Guy Couture (05 April 1979 – 19 Jun 2004 ); André Rivest (19 Jun 2004 – – )
Auxiliary Bishops of Chicoutimi from the time of Father Raymond Lebel’s ordination: Roch Pedneault (10 May 1974 to 15 June 2002)
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The following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) which I have on hand and media (M)
2011, 2010: address on rue de Gascogne, Chicoutimi (CCCD)
16 December 2011: listed on Diocese of Chicoutimi website as Secretary for diocesan Council of Priests (Click image to enlarge)
20 February 2011: message of condolence online
Message de : Son ancien curé
À toute la famille :
Sincères condoléances pour le décès de Mme Marie-Paule qui a animé la chorale du Christ-Roi pendant toute la période où je fus curé.
Un cousin de Mme Alice Dufour
Raymond LeBel, ptre
02 May 2010: celebrated his diamond Jubilee at the Cathedral in Chicoutimi
2003-2004: Annual report for the diocese shows Father Raymond Lebel as President for the Saguenay, Lac Saint-Jean region
2002-2003: Annual report for the diocese shows Father Raymond Lebel as President for the Saguenay, Lac Saint-Jean region
2001-2002: Annual report for the diocese shows Father Raymond Lebel as Secretary for the Saguenay, Lac Saint-Jean region
2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, : 602 rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi, Quebec 418-543-0783 (address and phone number for Chicoutimi Diocesan Centre) (CCCD)
1993: 10395, rue St Hubert, Montreal, Quebec H2C 2N8 Phone 514-389-0921
01 December 1992: sentenced to 18 months jail and two years probation
24 Auguest 1992: GUILTY plea.
1992, 1991, 1985-86: Pastor, St. Georges Roman Catholic Church, Jonquiere, Quebec (CCCD)
January 1992: began psychological therapy (M)
testified that he left the parish after a church warden complained about the administration of the parish. He allegedly feared that his sexual exploits would become public so he took a one year sabbatical and headed to Montreal. (M)
23 June 1991: sexually abused 13-year-old boy after he had taken the child fishing (M)
1973-74: address for St. Anne Roman Catholic Church, Chicoutimi North, Quebec (Pastor Father L. Bouchard) (CCCD)
1971-72: address for Saint-Pierre Roman Catholic Church, Alma, Lac st. Jean, Quebec (Pastor Father Bruno Prescott) (CCCD)
1968-69: assisting at Saint-Pierre Roman Catholic Church, Alma, Lac st. Jean, Quebec (Pastor Father Onesime Tremblay) (CCCD)
1967: Saint-Pierre Roman Catholic Church, Alma, Lac St. Jean, Quebec (Pastor Father Ernest Levesque) (CCCD)
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Pleaded guilty to sex charges, priest sentenced to 18 months
The Montreal Gazette
02 December 1992
Catherine Buckie
A 57-year-old priest who pleaded guilty to charges of gross indecency and sexual touching was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in jail and two year’s probation.
Raymond Lebel, a who headed a church in the Saguenay-Lac St. Jean region, gave himself up to police last May, four months after an investigation into his sexual misconduct had begun. He pleaded guilty to the charges Aug. 24.
Quebec Court Judge Andre Chaloux took less than five minutes to render his sentence saying only: “After taking into account all that you (the lawyers) have said and all the documents that were submitted to me, I came to the conclusion that I cannot be more lenient than 18 months.”
The priest admitted that while he was pastor, he had sexual relations with three boys, two of them aged 17 and one aged 13.
In statements to police, both 17-year-olds said they had consented to the relationship, one of which lasted from 1980 to 1990 and the other from 1984 to 1991.
The first incident with the 13-year-old occurred June 23, 1991 in the priest’s trailer after he had taken the lad fishing.
Lebel said he left the parish after a churchwarden complained to him about parish administration and threatened to go to the bishop.
Lebel said he immediately thought his sexual exploits would become public so he took a year’s sabbatical and fled to Montreal. In January he began psychological therapy.
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01 December 1992
Canadian Press
Montreal (CP) A 57-year-old Catholic priest was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for sexual assault.
Father Rayomnd Lebel carried out the assaults between 1980 and 1991, while the priest of a parish in Jonquiere, Quebec City.
Two of the victims were 17 and the third was 13 years old at the time.
Father Lebel turned himself in to police at the end of 1991 after resigning from his post.
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Judge lambastes priest for sex-attack `epidemic’
The Montreal Gazette
26 November 1992
Catherine Buckle
After scolding a 57-year-old priest for the “epidemic” of sexual assaults among his colleagues, Quebec Court Judge Andre Chaloux ordered Raymond Lebel into custody to await sentencing for sexual touching and gross indecency.
“You are the reason families and young children reject the Church today,” Chaloux said. “One wonders if it isn’t an epidemic. Or maybe it was hidden before and now the floodgates are open, but it is becoming worrisome. People no longer feel protected.”
Lebel surrendered to the Surete du Quebec in May, four months after the sexual-touching complaints were filed against him. He pleaded guilty Aug. 24.
He admitted that while serving in Jonquiere, he had sexual relations with three boys, two aged 17 and one 13. Both 17-year- olds told police they had consented to the relationship, one of which lasted from 1980 to 1990 and the other from 1984 to 1991. The first incident with the 13-year-old occurred in June 1991.
Lebel said he feared his sexual exploits would become public so he took a year’s sabbatical and went to Montreal. In January he began psychological therapy.
Lebel’s lawyer argued that because the priest confessed to police and pleaded guilty, those factors should be considered favorably in sentencing.
But an angry Chaloux replied: “If he had come forward 11 years ago we wouldn’t even be here today.”
Chaloux said he will render his sentence Tuesday.
It looks to me as though Father Raymond Lebel’s criminal record as a sexual predator has not deterred his bishop and/or peers in the Diocese of Chicoutimi from appointing or electing him to positions of honour within the diocese.
Has Father Lebel been assisting at or offering Masses in the diocese since his conviction? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
Would anyone with any further information please pass it along, either as a comment posted here, and in an email to me at: cornwall@theinquiry.ca ?