CBC News
October 1, 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/10/01/ns-lahey-charged-sydney.html
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| Bishop Raymond Lahey, 69, brokered a $15-million compensation deal with people who said they were abused by priests in the diocese, some dating back to the 1950s. |
The archbishop of Halifax is expected to hold a news conference Thursday about a Nova Scotia bishop charged with possessing and importing child pornography.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Raymond Lahey, 69, the former archbishop of the diocese of Antigonish who brokered a $15-million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Anthony Mancini, the archbishop, is heading to Sydney on Thursday to speak with Lahey's former parishioners and hold a news conference.
"It's devastating for me, it's devastating for him, and it's devastating for the whole church, whether it's in Antigonish or Halifax or the rest of Canada," said Mancini.
Nova Scotia RCMP said Lahey is still at large and has not contacted them.
Lahey was returning to Canada on Sept. 15 when he was detained at Ottawa International Airport. Canada Border Services agents checked his laptop and found images "of concern," Ottawa police said in a release.
Lahey was allowed to leave, but his computer and other media devices were seized. Police said a forensic examination ultimately found child pornography.
On Friday, Ottawa police charged Lahey with possession of child pornography and importation of child pornography.
The next day, he resigned as archbishop of the archdiocese of Antigonish, citing the need for "personal renewal."
Mancini said he didn't know at the time why Lahey was stepping down, nor was he aware of the charges against him. He said he spoke with Lahey by phone on Wednesday, but doesn't know where he is.
Ottawa police said they don't know where Lahey is either, though they have been in contact with him.
Lahey made headlines this summer when he helped reach a $15-million compensation deal with people who said they had been sexually abused by priests in the diocese, in some cases dating back to 1950.
That settlement, approved by a Nova Scotia court on Sept. 10, was described as the first time the Roman Catholic Church has apologized and set up a compensation package for complainants without fighting the charges in court.
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