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	No Priest with Background of Abuse Would Join Diocese By Greg Peerenboom Standard-Freeholder September 3, 2008 http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1182559 Bishop says today's church would not allow it Bishop Paul Andre Durocher assured the Cornwall Public Inquiry that priests with a background of committing abuse will not join the diocese. Durocher, who testified Tuesday under examination by commission counsel Pierre Dumais, outlined preventive steps taken by his administration. He said it was mandatory for information on a candidate priest be provided by other dioceses, and that such information would be provided by him to other bishops. The inquiry learned from former diocese bishop Eugene LaRocque that he knowingly hired a priest who faced criminal charges involving boys while serving in New York state. The current bishop was also asked by Dumais to demonstrate his involvement with a former priest, Paul Lapierre, who was convicted in 2004 of an assault charge in a Quebec court. RELIEVED OF DUTIES Even though Lapierre had not served locally since 1969, Durocher relieved him of his ministerial duties after his Quebec conviction. Commissioner Normand Glaude questioned why Durocher did not defrock Lapierre. The bishop replied that move would be warranted if a priest did not co-operate with specific orders, such as continuing to perform clerical duties despite being removed from active ministry. Durocher also revealed the sometimes trying circumstances involving the aftershocks of the sex abuse allegations involving the diocese. He saw first hand the lack of trust shown by victim advocacy groups. Shortly after his installment, the groups met with Durocher, but further dialogue became strained. Durocher said he was accused of lying because he wasn't becoming forthright until he found out more about who these men (the advocacy groups) represented in the community. Durocher was further taken aback when he confronted Garry Guzzo about the former judge and MPP's assertion the diocese had paid out $100,000 to keep allegations quiet. Durocher was exasperated when he learned from Guzzo that he had assumed there was a payoff. The bishop returns to the inquiry today for cross-examination.
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