VERNON (BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA)
iNFOnews.ca
September 12, 2020
By Ben Bulmer
Kamloops BC – Two brothers who were sexually abused by a Catholic priest in Vernon during the 1970s have come to an out of court settlement with the Archdiocese of Kamloops.
The brothers filed separate civil claims last year, both alleging they had been sexually abused by Father Herbert Bourne when they were teenagers while the now-deceased priest was working at the St. James Catholic Church in Vernon.
The brothers’ lawyer Bill Dick told iNFOnews.ca the case was settled out of court a couple of weeks ago.
“What was ultimately important in the process was the Archdiocese through its legal counsel put forward an offer that included an apology and an acknowledgement of wrongdoing,” Dick said. “It was the right decision from the Archdiocese to say we acknowledge that what happened was horrific, we acknowledge that what Father Bourne did should never have happened and it was a horrific breach of abuse and trust from someone that should be providing moral and spiritual guidance.”
The lawyer said the Archdiocese of Kamloops Bishop Joseph Phuong Nguyen met with the brothers and their families to give a formal apology and an acknowledgement that what happened was a horrific breach of trust.
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The abuse took place in the church, at the priest’s home, and his vehicle, and also at the men’s home. The notice of claim states the Diocese “failed to act when it knew or ought to have known” about the abuse.
The lawyer wouldn’t disclose the amount of compensation awarded but said confidentiality was not part of the settlement.
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The announcement of the settlement comes days after a Supreme Court Justice awarded almost $850,000 to a former teacher after the judge ruled the Archdiocese of Kamloops had failed to protect the teacher from the “predatory instincts” of a “playboy” priest.
The priest, Father Erlindo Molon, had initiated an unwanted sexual relationship with Rosemary Anderson in 1976. In the judgement, Aug. 25, the judge found Bishop Adam Exner failed to act although he was well aware of Father Molon’s conduct.
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