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	Allegation against Military Chaplain Not Reported to Police By Laura Payton Toronto Sun February 19, 2010 http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/02/19/12952236.html OTTAWA — The archdiocese of St. Boniface knew of an allegation of “inappropriate behaviour” against a former military chaplain in 2004, but didn’t report it to police, church officials confirmed to QMI Agency. Roger Bazin, the former head of Catholic military chaplains, now faces charges related to sexual assault from a 1972 incident. But a Thunder Bay, Ont., family complained of “inappropriate behaviour” to Bazin’s archbishop in 2004, resulting in a $24,000 payoff, a spokesman for the archdiocese said. “The family did not want to report (to police) what they said at that time,” said Leonce Aubin, chancellor of the archdiocese. “They wanted it to be settled between the different parties.” “They said as long as he has counselling. ‘See father has help.’” Bazin had already had counselling, Aubin said, although he didn’t provide specific details about the counselling. The family alleged “inappropriate behaviour” that happened some time in the 1990s, but didn’t come forward until 2004, Aubin said. He wouldn’t say what that behaviour was. Bazin wouldn’t confirm Aubin’s statements. “Anything else that’s been said by anyone else to the media then I’m not responsible to declare or to say anything about that. I’m out of that picture,” he said. The diocese convened a committee and decided to suggest counsellors for Bazin, although they never asked for proof that he followed up on the counselling. Aubin says Bazin, a lawyer and the family negotiated a $24,000 payment over the alleged behaviour. Aubin didn’t see the final agreement, but said it was “without prejudice,” meaning there was no admission of guilt attached to it. The archbishop also stopped assigning Bazin, who was retired, to fill in at churches that didn’t have pastors. But because the allegation was never made public, individual priests could have arranged with him to replace them for short-term absences like vacations or sick days. Emilius Goulet, the former archbishop who was in charge at the time, said he did his best to help Bazin, and that he immediately took him out of the rotation of retired priests available to fill in for other pastors. “I have nothing to defend. I am very satisfied with what I did,” said Goulet, who is now retired. “He was not a priest (because he was retired). It was a personal situation with the family.”
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