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	Woman Allegedly Raped by Catholic Priest 43 Years Ago Sues By Sue Montgomery Montreal Gazette April 14, 2008 http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=6053d 13f-3230-49fc-8628-3e18e75cce0d&k=89380 A woman who claims she was raped and impregnated by a priest 43 years ago is suing the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Quebec, as well as the estate of the father, who died two months ago. A teary France Bédard, 59, met with journalists today, saying she was encouraged by singing star Nathalie Simard, who spoke out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her manager, Guy Cloutier. "There are good priests, but there are some whose behaviour is criminal," said Bédard, who is claiming $325,000 in damages. "They have no code of ethics. They abuse their power." Isabelle Théberge, of the Catholic disocese of Quebec, said they were still studying the suit and would respond within two days. Bédard's alleged abuser, Armand Therrien, was charged with rape and gross indecency in May, 2006, but died before his trial this year at the age of 67. He was also charged in 2006 of criminally harrassing the employees at the long-term care centre where he was staying. According to the suit, filed Friday in Quebec Superior Court, Bédard was hired as a live-in maid at Therrien's church, St. Marc des Carrieres in Quebec City. Bédard claims that one evening while turning out the lights in the presbytery, Therrien grabbed her arm and placed his other hand over her mouth, saying: "If you scream, the parish priest will find out." Once he lifted his hand from her mouth, the court document says, Bédard replied: "No, no, I don't want to. Stop. I'm 17 and a virgin. I've never slept with a man." Therrien, who was 25 at the time, allegedly said: "Tonight you'll find out what a man is." He then raped her, Bédard says. She left her job soon after, at the age of 18, and the two began a romantic relationship because, Bédard claims, Therrien had a hold over her. It lasted until the death of Bédard's father in 1966. That summer, Bédard discovered she was pregnant, notified Therrien, who demanded she destroy all the love letters he had written her, forget him and suggested she have an abortion. She gave birth to a boy, contacted Therrien, who said he wanted nothing to do with the child and said that Bédard should give it up for adoption. She did reluctantly, and Therrien, she claims, continued to try to contact her in the following years. In 1996, Bédard tracked down her son and contacted Therrien to tell him. Therrien wanted nothing to do with the child, the suit says. After years of living with the guilt of having had a relationship with a man who raped her, Bédard said she finally found the courage to file a complaint after hearing an interview with Simard in 2005. Simard's abuser, Cloutier, was sentenced to 42 months in prison in December 2004, after being convicted of sexually abusing two minors, including Simard. He received full parole after serving 19 months. Bédard's suit said she met with the Catholic diocese of Quebec and was told Therrien denied being the father of the child, as well as the assault allegations. But a DNA test proved that he was the father. Therrien's lawyer in the criminal case, Enrico Théberge, said he had filed a motion last year for a stay of proceedings. But Therrien died before Théberge could argue there had been an unreasonable delay in reporting the alleged crime. smontgomery@thegazette.canwest.com
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