CANADA
Northern Life
By: Darren MacDonald – Sudbury Northern Life
The law firm representing victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests says maintaining the abusers’ status as priests is an insult to victims and good priests alike.
At a press conference Oct. 19 at the Radisson Hotel, Rob Talach called on the church to defrock clergy who have been convicted of sex crimes. Talach, a lawyer with the firm Ledriot Beckett Litigation Lawyers, also wants the local diocese to help pay for counselling of victims of abuse, and to create a sexual abuse policy with input from victims.
“You would be shocked to learn that many of those local offending priests still hold the honourable designation of ‘father,’ ” Talach said. “Retired from active ministry is their official disposition, but regardless, they are still priests of the Roman Catholic Church … It is an affront to good priests and an insult to victims.”
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