CANADA
Digital Journal
By Marcus Hondro
A defrocked priest found guilty of 32 counts of sexually abusing Inuit children between the years 1978 and 1982 apologized in a courtroom at his sentencing hearing today. As he did so, dozens of victims and members of their families cried out.
Threatened children for sex
Eric Dejaeger, 67, and in poor health, committed offences against boys and girls, mostly between the ages of 8 and 12, but for some the abuse started when they were but four-years-old. He was appearing Thursday in an Iqaluit, Nunavut courtroom.
From Belgium, when he committed the offences Dejaeger was an Oblate missionary in Igloolik, Nunavut. His crimes were horrific and cruel, including threatening children with fire and brimstone if they did not perform sexual acts. There was testimony of the former priest offering food to hungry children for sex, even dangling food in front of them.
“I can only take responsibility for what I have done,” he told the judge. “I would like to ask for forgiveness. I promise not to re-offend. And that’s not just words.”
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