Sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland
Reported cases of sexual abuse in St. John's archdiocese is an important chapter in the series of clerical abuse affairs that occurred in the dioceses of Canada.
James Hickey affair
In September 1988, Fr. James Hickey pleaded guilty to 20 charges of sexual assault, gross indecency and indecent assault involving teenage boys while he was a parish priest on the Burin Peninsula. He spent five years in prison, serving his sentence at Her Majesty's Penitentiary, St. John's, and Dorchester Penitentiary, NB. Despite Hickey's criminal conviction the Archdiocese fought against the victims' lawsuits demanding damages for over 20 years.[1]
In February 2009, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled that the Archdiocese of St. John's was, "vicariously liable", for the sexual abuse of eight former altar boys by disgraced priest, Fr. James Hickey.
Mount Cashel orphanage scandal
In 1988, a scandal erupted over allegations of widespread abuse of children at Mount Cashel Orphanage in Newfoundland. The religious order that ran the orphanage filed for bankruptcy in the face of numerous lawsuits. Since the Mount Cashel scandal erupted, a number of priests across the country have been accused of sexual abuse.[2] In July 2020, the Court of Appeal for Newfoundland and Labrador unanimously reversed a 2018 Canadian Supreme ruling and ruled that the Archdiocese of St. John’s was liable for the sexual abuse committed at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in the 1950s and 1960s.[3]
Hughes Inquiry
The Hughes Inquiry was a Canadian royal commission which concluded that officials had transferred offenders and covered up the sexual abuse at Mount Cashel. It recommended that victims be compensated.[4] The commission began inquiry investigations on 1 June 1989 and published its report in April 1992.
Allegations against bishop Lahey
In 1989, Fr. Kevin Molloy went to former St. John's archbishop Alphonsus Liguori Penney to report that a child had seen pornography at the home of a priest Raymond Lahey. These allegations were recounted in 2009 when Bishop Lahey was subsequently arrested for separate allegations involving illicit pornography (see: sexual abuse scandal in Antigonish diocese).[5]
Resignation of bishop Penney
Bishop Alphonsus Liguori Penney resigned his position on 2 Feb 1991 after a commission of inquiry, which he personally appointed, found that he was probably aware of sexual abuse of children by priests in his archdiocese.[6]
1992 guidelines from the CCCB
In 1992, the Canadian Catholic bishops responded by unveiling tough guidelines, calling for fairness and openness to all allegations, stressing the need to "respect" the jurisdiction of outside authorities, and recommending counselling and compassion for the victims. However, some assert that, the bishops' guidelines notwithstanding, the sexual abuse problems have not been adequately addressed.[7]
2003 Supreme Court decision
In 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Roman Catholic Church is responsible (vicariously liable) for sexual abuse by its priests (cf Doe v. Bennett).
Rev. Peter Power controversy
In July 2020, Rev. Peter Power, who was originally from the Archdiocese of Toronto, was charged with charges of sexual touching, sexual assault and committing an indecent act involving two teenaged boys, aged 18 and 16 years old at a residence in a small Newfoundland community earlier in the year.[8] Though officially retired, Power was still occasionally active in Catholic ministry when he relocated to Newfoundland.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Catholic Church Liable for Sexual Abuse of Altar Boys: St. John's, Newfoundland". 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ Notorious Mount Cashel orphanage to close
- ^ Whiffen, Glen (July 29, 2020). "The decision by province's Appeals Court, which reverses a 2018 Supreme Court finding, was unanimous; church has 60 days to decide if it will apply for a Supreme Court of Canada appeal". Journal Pioneer. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- ^ The Hughes Inquiry Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Suspicion about Lahey raised 20 years ago Archived 2009-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Head Count of Ousted Bishops Grows to Eighteen
- ^ Diocesan resources from the CCCB concerning sexual abuse
- ^ a b The Canadian Press (July 21, 2020). "Retired priest from archdiocese of Toronto facing sex charges in Newfoundland". Global News. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
