Sutton: Father Edward Sutton

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Edward Leo Sutton

Priest, Diocese of St. John’s Newfoundland.  Ordained 24 June 1980.  January 1989 – charged in connection with sex abuse incidents of boy alleged to have  transpired between 1981 and 1982 at the residence of Father John Corrigan.  December 1989 -ACQUITTED. Justice Wells said, amongst other things, that he could not find any corroboration for the Crown’s evidence and that character witnesses who knew Sutton when he was a teacher showed that he was a “man of highest standards and excellent character.” (The complainant also had charges laid against Father Francis Slattery and Anthony Bennett.  I don’t know the outcome of the Slattery charges; Bennett entered a guilty plea  to one charge of sex abuse of a minor male which transpired at Corrigan’s residence in Pouch Cove)

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Archbishops of St. John’s during Father Sutton’s tenure:  Patrick James Skinner (January 1951-April 1979) ; Alphonsus Penney (April 1979-February 1991); James MacDonald(February 1991-December 2000); Brendan O’Brien (December 2000 – June 2007); Martin Currie  (October 2007- )

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The following information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Directories (CCCD) of that date, and media (M).  The information is far from complete.  Further information will be added as it becomes available.

2011:  pastor, St. Peter’s RC Church, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland  http://www.nfld.net/stpetersparish/bulletin.pdf

2010:  Pastor, Holy Family RC Church,  Ferryland, Newfoundland (CCCD)

2002:  Holy Family RC Church,  Ferryland, Newfoundland (CCCD)

2000:  Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church, W. Henbay, Newfoundland (CCCD)

1999:  Pastor, Sacred Heart RC Church, St. Bride’s Newfoundland (CCCD)

1998, 1997:  address and phone number for Diocesan Centre ( P.O.Box 1363, St. John’s Newfoundland) (CCCD)

1996, 1995, 1994:  Holy Apostles RC Church, Renews, NFLD (CCCD)

1993:  Pastor, Sacred Heart RC Church, Fox Harbour, NFLD (CCCD)

1992:  St. John the Baptist Basilica, St. John’s, Newfoundland (Pastor Father Gerard Whitty) (CCCD)

1991:  Pastor,  St. Joseph RC Church, Lamaline, Newfoundland (CCCD)

December 1989:  ACQUITTED

January 1989:  charged with three counts of gross indecency involving a young boy.  The complainant alleged the abuse transpired at the residence of Father Corrigan in Pouch Cove (M)

In charge of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. John’s (M)

1988:  Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of St. John’s Newfoundland (M)

1985-86:  Pastor St. Joseph RC Church, Lamaline, Newfoundland (CCCD)

1981, 1982: charges of 1989 relate to allegations that in these years Sutton was visiting Father John Corrigan in Pouch Cove and that, during those visits, molested a young boy (M)

1980: Ordained (CCCD)

1963-75:  prior to pursuing the priesthood taught in several communities in Newfoundland’s Southern Shore (M)

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December 20, 1989

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP)

Rev. Edward Leo Sutton, a Roman Catholic priest who once oversaw recruitment of priests in Newfoundland, was acquitted Tuesday of three counts of gross indecency against a young boy.

Mr. Justice Robert Wells of the Newfoundland Supreme Court said he found the 44‑year‑old priest not guilty because he was not satisfied the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the criminal acts took place.

Of the 20 men charged in the last year in a sex scandal that has rocked the Catholic church in Newfoundland, Sutton is the first to be acquitted.

Sutton, a native of Trepassey, Nfld., was charged last January after a man complained that, when he was a young teenager, he and the priest engaged in mutual oral sex on three different occasions.

The complainant, who is now 24, alleged the offences took place in Pouch Cove, Nfld., at the home of parish priest Rev. John Corrigan.

Corrigan pleaded guilty one year ago to seven charges involving sexual abuse of young boys, and is now serving a five‑year sentence in Dorchester Penitentiary.

FINDS NO  PROOF

Mr. Justice Wells said he couldn’t find any corroboration of the complainant’s charges and testimony during the two‑day trial last week.

Wells also said that as he reviewed the evidence he found uncertainties as to when the offences were said to have occurred.

Wells reviewed the background of Sutton, who was a school teacher in several communities on Newfoundland’s southern shore between 1963 and 1975, after which he started studies for the priesthood.

The judge said the character witnesses of a dozen people from communities where Sutton taught and served as a parish priest showed he was a “man of highest standards and excellent character.”

Wells noted that Sutton admitted in his testimony to visiting Corrigan’s residence in Pouch Cove two or three times a year, but said it was out of concern for Corrigan’s heavy drinking. Sutton also had said he was also disturbed to see several boys spending a lot of time at Corrigan’s home.

DENIES CHARGE

Sutton had said he knew the complainant from his visits to Corrigan’s, but denied any involvement in sexual activity.

“I find you not guilty,” announced Wells.

“Thank you sir,” the priest calmly replied.

The sex scandal in Newfoundland has two facets. One is sexual abuse by priests of young parishioners, particularly altar boys.

The other is allegations that members of the Christian Brothers sexually and physically abused boys at the church’s Mount Cashel orphanage in St. John’s. The brothers are not ordained priests but live under vows of chastity similar to those of priests.

A few priests and former priests have already been convicted and several others await trial. Nine Christian Brothers and former brothers await trial, as does an elderly neighbor accused of sexually assaulting a boy who was walking home to the orphanage.

The scandal has set off a continuing judicial inquiry into why charges weren’t laid at Mount Cashel back in the mid‑1970s. It has also led the Christian Brothers to decide recently that the orphanage will be closed permanently as soon as homes can be found for its current crop of boys.

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R.C. priest acquitted of indecency charges

The Toronto Globe and Mail

Thursday, December 21, 1989

ST. JOHN’S — Canadian Press ST. JOHN’S Rev. Edward Leo Sutton , a Roman Catholic priest who once oversaw recruitment of priests in Newfoundland , has been acquitted of three counts of gross indecency against a young teen-ager.

Mr. Justice Robert Wells of the Newfoundland Supreme Court said Tuesday he found the 44-year-old priest not guilty because he was not satisfied the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the criminal acts took place.

Of 20 men charged in the last year in a sex scandal that has rocked the Catholic church in Newfoundland, Father Sutton is the first to be acquitted.

Father Sutton, a native of Trepassey, Nfld., was charged last January after a man complained that, when he was a youth, he and the priest engaged in mutual oral sex on three different occasions. The complainant, who is now 24, alleged the offences took place in Pouch Cove, at the home of parish priest John Corrigan.

Father Corrigan pleaded guilty a year ago to seven charges involving sexual abuse of young boys, and is serving a five-year sentence in Dorchester Penitentiary.

Mr. Justice Wells said he could not find any corroboration of the complainant’s charges and testimony during Father Sutton’s two-day trial last week.

Judge Wells also said that as he reviewed the evidence he found uncertainties as to when the offences were said to have occurred.

The judge reviewed the background of Father Sutton, who was a teacher in several communities on Newfoundland’s southern shore between 1963 and 1975 and then began to study for the priesthood.

Judge Wells said a dozen character witnesses from communities where Father Sutton taught and served as a parish priest showed he was a ”man of highest standards and excellent character.” Judge Wells noted that Father Sutton admitted in his testimony to visiting Father Corrigan’s residence in Pouch Cove two or three times a year, but said it was out of concern for Father Corrigan’s heavy drinking. Father Sutton also had said he was disturbed to see several boys spending a lot of time at Father Corrigan’s home.

Father Sutton had said he knew the complainant from his visits to Father Corrigan, but denied any involvement in sexual activity.

”I find you not guilty,” Judge Wells announced.

”Thank you, sir,” Father Sutton calmly replied.

Also Tuesday, another priest was committed to stand trial on 28 charges of gross indecency and attempted gross indecency.

No trial date was set for Rev. Kevin Joseph Bennett, 56. The charges related to his years as parish priest at St. Bernard’s from 1969 to 1979.

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Canadian Press

December 19, 1989

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP)

A Roman Catholic priest was acquitted Tuesday of charges of three counts of gross indecency against a young boy.

The Newfoundland Supreme Court judge said he found Rev. Edward Leo Sutton, 44, not guilty because he was not satisfied the Crown proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the criminal acts took place.

Sutton, a native of Trepassey, Nfld., was charged last January after a man complained that when he was 12 and 13 years old between 1981 and 1982 he and the priest engaged in mutual oral sex on three different occasions.

The complainant, who is now 24, alleged the offences took place in Pouch Cove, Nfld., at the home of parish priest Rev. John Corrigan.

Corrigan pleaded guilty one year ago to seven charges involving sexual abuse of young boys, and is now serving a five‑year sentence in Dorchester Penitentiary.

In finding Sutton not guilty, Mr. Justice Robert Wells said he couldn’t find any corroboration of the complainant’s charges and testimony during the two‑day trial last week.

“I cannot find anything that corroborates what the Crown has alleged,” he said.

And Wells said that as he reviewed the evidence he found uncertainties as to when the offences were said to have occurred.

Wells reviewed the background of Sutton, who was a school teacher in several communities on Newfoundland’s southern shore between 1963 and 1975, after which he started studies for the priesthood.

The judge said the character witnesses of a dozen people from communities where Sutton taught and served as a parish priest showed he was a “man of highest standards and excellent character.”

Wells noted that Sutton admitted in his testimony to visiting Corrigan’s residence in Pouch Cove two or three times a year, but said it was out of concern for Corrigan’s heavy drinking. Sutton also had said he was also disturbed to see several boys spending a lot of time at Corrigan’s home.

Sutton had said he knew the complainant from his visits to Corrigan’s, but denied any involvement in sexual activity.

“I find you not guilty,” announced Wells.

“Thank you sir,” the priest calmly replied.

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Priests ordered to stand trial

The Montreal Gazette

02 May 1989

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP) – Two Roman Catholic priests were committed yesterday to stand trial, each on a charge of gross indecency.

Rev. Edward Leo Sutton, 44, and Rev. James Francis Slattery, 51, elected trial in Newfoundland Supreme Court by a judge and no jury.

Both men were charged in January and involve the same complainant, now a 28-year-old man.

The offence Sutton is charged with is alleged to have occurred between January 1981, and January 1982.

Sutton, who used to be in charge of recruiting priests in the area around St. John’s, is now stationed in the southwestern village of Flat Bay.

The offence Slattery is charged with is alleged to have occurred between January 1978 and January 1981. Slattery is parish priest at Corpus Christi Parish in St. John’s.

In the last two years in Newfoundland, six priests, two former priests, a priest’s close friend and six members of Christian Brothers have been charged with sexual offences against boys.

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Fifth Newfoundland priest charged

The Montreal Gazette

31 January 1989

Canadian Press

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP) – A former Roman Catholic priest has been charged with committing a sexual offence against a boy while a priest – the fifth person arrested for a sexual offence involving the church in Newfoundland recently.

Anthony Patrick Bennett, 33, of St. John’s was charged with one count of gross indecency when he appeared in provincial court yesterday. The Irish native elected trial by judge alone in Newfoundland Supreme Court.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 2.

The incident allegedly occurred before he left the priesthood in October 1987. At that time, he was parish priest at Mary Queen of Peace Church in St. John’s.

On Friday, two priests, one from St. John’s and the other from the south coast, were charged with gross indecency involving boys.

One of the priests is Rev. Edward Leo Sutton who, as director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. John’s, oversees the recruitment of priests. Sutton, 44, is from Allan’s Island on the south coast.

The other is Rev. James Francis Slattery, 51, a parish priest for Corpus Christi Church in St. John’s.

The two men will be back in court May 1 for trial election and plea.

Rev. John Corrigan, 57, was sentenced this month to five years in prison for a decade of offences against seven boys in two parishes.

Corrigan, of St. John’s, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one of attempted sexual assault and four of gross indecency.

His sentencing came three months after Rev. James Hickey, 55, was sentenced to five years for sexual assaulting altar boys over an 18-year period. Hickey, also of St. John’s, pleaded guilty to 20 offences.

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Fifth Newfoundland priest charged

Montreal Gazette

31 January 1989

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP) – A former Roman Catholic priest has been charged with committing a sexual offence against a boy while a priest – the fifth person arrested for a sexual offence involving the church in Newfoundland recently.

Anthony Patrick Bennett, 33, of St. John’s was charged with one count of gross indecency when he appeared in provincial court yesterday. The Irish native elected trial by judge alone in Newfoundland Supreme Court.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 2.

The incident allegedly occurred before he left the priesthood in October 1987. At that time, he was parish priest at Mary Queen of Peace Church in St. John’s.

On Friday, two priests, one from St. John’s and the other from the south coast, were charged with gross indecency involving boys.

One of the priests is Rev. Edward Leo Sutton who, as director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. John’s, oversees the recruitment of priests. Sutton, 44, is from Allan’s Island on the south coast.

The other is Rev. James Francis Slattery, 51, a parish priest for Corpus Christi Church in St. John’s.

The two men will be back in court May 1 for trial election and plea.

Rev. John Corrigan, 57, was sentenced this month to five years in prison for a decade of offences against seven boys in two parishes.

Corrigan, of St. John’s, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one of attempted sexual assault and four of gross indecency.

His sentencing came three months after Rev. James Hickey, 55, was sentenced to five years for sexual assaulting altar boys over an 18-year period. Hickey, also of St. John’s, pleaded guilty to 20 offences.

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Two priests charged with sex offences 

Toronto Star

28 January 1989.

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CP) – Two more Roman Catholic priests in Newfoundland have been charged with sexual offences against boys.

Rev. Edward Leo Sutton, 44, from Allan’s Island on the south coast, and Rev. James Francis Slattery, 51, of St. John’s were charged in provincial court yesterday with one count each of gross indecency.

Sutton was charged in connection with incidents between 1981 and 1982. Slattery is charged with incidents between 1978 and 1981. The two are scheduled to enter pleas May 1.

Two other priests from the St. John’s area – Rev. John Corrigan, 57, and Rev. James Hickey – are serving jail sentences for sexual offences against altar boys.

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