Canada--Deaf victims of pedophile priests settle abuse suits; SNAP responds

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
February 17, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/canada_deaf_victims_of_pedophile_priests_settle_abuse_suits_snap_responds

About 60 former students of the Montreal Institute for the Deaf have settled their child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits against a Catholic group called the Clerics de St. Viateur.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/deaf-students-abused-by-priests-at-clercs-de-st-viateur-win-record-30-million-settlement

The credit for this settlement lies squarely with the brave victims who had the strength to come forward, the wisdom to seek justice in the courts, and determination to persist despite years of expensive, futile and self-serving legal maneuvers by church officials. 

No amount of money can possibly restore the shattered childhoods, the broken trust, and the devastated emotional lives of these courageous but wounded men and women. We hope they feel some healing and closure at this point. We know they have exposed horrific wrongdoing - both by predator priests and their complicit colleagues. And we’re deeply proud of and grateful to them for this.

We applaud these brave victims whose actions have helped protect kids. We hope this settlement will help victims continue to move toward healing.

We urge each of these victims to stay in therapy, keep attending support groups, and avoid the tempting assumption that this agreement will magically 'cure' depression, addictions, and other long term damaging effects of terrible childhood trauma and betrayal.

While many of those who committed the abuse have died, we hope that law enforcement will also investigate those that enabled, shielded and protected the predators. We encourage anyone who has been harmed to come forward and begin healing. We hope that anyone who has seen or suspected these crimes will contact law enforcement.