BishopAccountability.org
	Ottawa Pastor Denies Sex Claim By Jon Willing, Sun Media CNews May 21, 2009 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2009/05/21/9522411-sun.html Woman alleges exploitation as a youth OTTAWA -- A former local pastor is defending himself against a $2.1-million abuse lawsuit, claiming he never had counselling sessions with a woman accusing him of indoctrinating her with sexual dogma. In a statement of defence filed at the Ottawa courthouse, Rev. Allen Tysick denies allegations levied by Collett Tracey, who went public with her claim against the popular clergyman in November. In her claim, Tracey alleges Tysick sexually exploited her when she was a member of his Ottawa youth group 30 years ago. Tracey says Tysick engaged her in sexual activities on several occasions. Tysick and the United Church of Canada are named as defendants in the claim. None of the allegations have been proven in court. In a statement of defence, Tysick denies having any sexual contact with Tracey when he was a youth group leader at Woodroffe United Church. "At no time during his employment as a youth leader at Woodroffe did Tysick act as an 'un-ordained minister' or as an emotional, religious or spiritual counsellor in any capacity whatsoever for any one or more members of the youth group," Tysick's defence statement says. The statement also says the lengthy delay of the claim "has prejudiced the ability of Tysick to defend the action" since potential witnesses might be dead or have trouble recalling events. The United Church of Canada, in its own statement of defence, says it didn't hire Tysick as the youth leader at Woodroffe church, where he worked for several months between 1979 and 1980. It was the congregation that hired Tysick and Woodroffe church would have been responsible for his supervision, the statement says. Tysick was ordained in 1980, after his work with the youth group. As he finished his last year in theology at McGill University, Tysick travelled to Ottawa on the weekends with his then-wife, who assisted with his work. "All activities were carried out as a group under the leadership of Tysick and his wife," Tysick's statement of defence says. Tysick, who was named a Canadian hero by Time magazine, is the executive director of a non-profit housing and drop-in centre in Victoria. He has been celebrated for helping the less fortunate in Eastern Ontario and British Columbia. Tracey is an award-winning English professor at Carleton University. Contact: jon.willing@sunmedia.ca
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.