CANADA
The Western Star
In St. John’s for the last few months, lawyers, witnesses and experts have been toiling through experiences, memories and damage that occurred at the Mount Cashel Orphanage years ago, as the court is being asked to determine whether the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corp. of St. John’s is liable for abuse suffered by boys at the orphanage.
It’s similar to a case fought on the west coast of this province, where victims of Father Kevin Bennett sued the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. George’s, which later sought bankruptcy
But another case, this time in London, Ont., is hearing blunt evidence from church insurers that a diocese not only moved and protected abusive priests from investigation, but deliberately withheld that information from insurers as well — something the insurers argue should void the diocese’s insurance policies.
This is only the insurance company’s version (as quoted by the judge in the ongoing case), but it is 293 chilling words.
“(In) 2006, the Diocese publicly disclosed documentation in its possession since 1962, i.e. prior to issuance of the policy, which showed that (Father Charles) Sylvestre had been investigated by Sarnia police following complaints made that he had sexually assaulted a number of children within his parish; the Diocese subsequently acknowledged that these allegations and police investigations came to attention of officials within the Diocese in January 1962; similar allegations of sexual assault made by children against (Father John) Harper were reported to officials at the Diocese in 1964 and were known to the Bishop who directed that Harper receive psychiatric treatment.
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