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  "Niece" Sues Diocese over Alleged Sex Abuse

By Eva Hoare
The Chronicle-Herald
January 5, 2010

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1160661.html

Father Raoul Deveau is dead, but Linda Deschamp wants his church held to account for the years she claims she was forced to live as the priest’s "niece," calling him "uncle" and enduring repeated sexual assaults.

Ms. Deschamp, now in her 50s, filed suit Dec. 24 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yarmouth and Archbishop Anthony Mancini, who now presides over the diocese.

The lawsuit in Nova Scotia Supreme Court alleges Father Deveau started sexually abusing her at the St. Thomas parish in Shelburne.

Ms. Deschamp, now living in Halifax, said she was taken in by the priest when she was 12 or 13 because her family, which was devoutly Catholic, was very poor.

"Linda moved with Deveau and lived with Deveau until she was 21 years old," the lawsuit says. "Deveau told Linda to call him ‘uncle’ and to tell everyone that they were related."

Ms. Deschamp alleges the priest originally sent food from the church to her family and then asked her parents if she wanted a job cleaning the rectory, the lawsuit says.

During those rectory visits, when she was about 11 or 12, she was sexually assaulted, the court documents allege.

It was about a year later that the priest invited the girl to move in with him after asking her parents for permission, the documents say.

"Because of the family’s poverty, and trust Linda’s parents had in their priest, they allowed Linda to live with Deveau."

Father Deveau then began to take her with him on vacations, when she was also sexually assaulted, her lawsuit says.

Ms. Deschamp alleges Father Deveau had previously been moved from other parishes due to complaints about his sexual misconduct with another girl. (That woman also filed a lawsuit in 2006.)

Ms. Deschamp and her lawyer, John McKiggan, also allege the Catholic Church had "total power and authority" over the priest and is directly and vicariously responsible for his actions.

During the time she lived with the priest, Bishop Austin Burke spoke with Ms. Deschamp several times, the documents allege, and "was aware Linda was not related to Deveau."

But she claims nothing was done to stop this "improper arrangement."

After complaints came in, Ms. Deschamp alleges Bishop Burke transferred the priest to Notre Dames de Lourdes parish in Melbourne, Yarmouth County.

As a result of the years of abuse, she has suffered from anxiety, sexual dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other ailments, Ms. Deschamp’s lawsuit claims.

"The plaintiff states that the defendant’s conduct was disgraceful, repugnant and reprehensible and the bishop and the diocese have behaved with arrogance and high-handedness and have shown a callous disregard and complete lack of care for Linda."

The allegations contained in this lawsuit have not been proven in court.

A spokesperson from the Catholic diocese in Halifax could not be reached late Monday afternoon.

As of late Monday, Mr. McKiggan said legal papers had not yet been served on the defendants.

Contact: ehoare@herald.ca

 
 

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