By Andrew Seymour
Canada.com
April 7, 2008
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=a2acf75b-db86-4413-9577-c230cf0e7510&k=52433
PEMBROKE, Ont. - The Roman Catholic Church was aware of the sexual abuse of young boys by Msgr. Bernard Prince more than three decades ago but allowed it to continue, according to lawsuits filed by nearly a dozen victims of the pedophile priest.
"I think it just goes to show the attitude of the Catholic Church that they would just as well keep this buried," said one of 11 men who filed $2 million lawsuits against Prince and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pembroke.
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| Bernard Prince was sentenced to four years in prison in January after being convicted of 13 charges of indecent and sexual assault involving young males between 1964 and 1984. Photo by Mike Carroccetto |
"All of these years, in my silence, I never thought the church knew about it," said the man, whose name is protected by a publication ban. He was sexually assaulted by Prince in 1984 when he was 17. "Why would the Catholic Church allow this to continue and not do anything about it?"
The allegations have not been proven in a court of law.
Prince, 72, was sentenced to four years in prison in January after being convicted of 13 charges of indecent and sexual assault involving young males between 1964 and 1984.
According to lawyer Rob Talach, the older sister of one of the victims reported the abuse of her brother to a nun at her Catholic high school in 1968 while Prince was at the St. Jean Baptiste parish in Pembroke.
Talach said the woman was told the matter would be reported to senior officials of the diocese.
A short time later, Prince was transferred to another assignment. Talach said the diocese also received a complaint about Prince in the late '90s, but he was allowed to continue to hold a prestigious post at the Vatican.
In total, the 11 men - including 10 of the victims from the criminal proceedings - are seeking $22 million in damages in the lawsuits, which were filed last week.
Two other lawsuits involving two of the other victims also have been filed by other law firms. The males were between 10- and 16-years-old when the assaults occurred. Prince pleaded guilty to 12 of the charges and was found guilty of a 13th.
The court heard the assaults usually occurred in bed, where a naked Prince would fondle and masturbate the young males. In several cases, the complainants reported anal intercourse or oral sex, although Prince denied those allegations.
Talach said the church already has provided some funding for counselling for Prince's victims. He said the victims he represents are hopeful the Catholic Church will make institutional changes to prevent such sex abuse from occurring again.
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