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  Priests Insulted

By Marc Gilbert
The Standard
April 29, 2010

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2556302

Some Montreal area priests say they have been the victims of insults and vulgarity in the streets, a possible result of allegations of pedophilia and other sexual scandals that have plagued the Catholic Church.

Such has been the case for Father Raymond Gravel and some of his colleagues who have noticed some people are beginning to look at them as if they are guilty of a sexual offence.

And if the insults are not being hurled at Gravel and other priests as they walk down the street, they find it online as well.

After having one of his columns about Easter celebrations published in a Montreal newspaper in early April, Gravel was criticized by readers who found him too complacent on the subject of priests accused of pedophilia.

Reader Michel Gaudette responded to the column by saying it was "just for show, to impress the naive. Priests are experts in the matter."

Though Gravel's column was only 1,000 words long, more than 90 comments

were posted on the newspaper's website between April 2 and 16. The online exchanges complicated the priest's message, and Gravel had to clarify his point several time.

However, not all priests have been submitted to the same treatment, said Father Raymond Poisson.

"I have never heard any kind of talk on this subject," said Poisson, who added that even though he wear's the traditional Roman collar everywhere he goes, people are "very respectful with me".

Poisson said he does not know any other members of the clergy that have been submitted to this type of negative treatment.

Two weeks ago, an Ipsos Reid survey showed that two million Canadians personally knew at least one person who was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest.

 
 

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