Anger at Ex-priest's Abuse May Be Tied to Church Fires Inn London Area, Cleric Says

By Norman De Bono
Stony Plain Reporter
November 2, 2020

https://www.stonyplainreporter.com/news/local-news/early-morning-blaze-destroys-chippewas-of-the-thames-church/wcm/1dc8d64a-f780-430d-bf7a-9af3cbb7579d

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation - Simmering anger and hurt here over sexual misconduct by a former priest may have fuelled fires that destroyed two Southwestern Ontario churches, including one where he procured his young victims.

That’s the perspective of Rev. Canon Gaye Whippey of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, at 81 Chippewa Rd. in Muncey, that was gutted by a fire about 6 a.m. Sunday. Another fire hours earlier destroyed South Caradoc United Church on Muncey Road.

“I think it may be anger from things that happened, that may have something to do with it,” Whippey said.

“It has been very difficult to work with the fact that someone had experienced something negative from a church person.”

But the Diocese of Huron, which oversees St. Andrew’s, cautioned against speculation about the cause of the fires.