Sexual Abuse Claims Blog

Justice Normand Glaude has released his report in the Cornwall Inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse.

Justice Glaude said during a press conference that:

“Institutions were ill equipped to deal with allegations about their own employees…institutions tend to try to find a way out, allowing individuals to stay under ineffective conditions that failed to protect the vulnerable.”

More Concerned About Reputation Than Child Safety

In a statement that rings true Justice Glaude says that institutions were:

“Less concerned about victims than about public embarrassment.”

I have been representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse for more than 18 years. In almost every case of institutional abuse we have investigated, we have found that persons in authority were aware, or should have been aware, of the abuse.

But the institutions failed to report the abuse rather than face the public embarrassment or stigma that public revelations might cause.

This problem has been particularly rampant within the Catholic Church, which appears to have perpetuated a “code of silence”; failing to acknowledge sexual abuse by it's priests or the harm it causes to the victims.

Progress Being Made?

One can only hope that progressive steps like Justice Glaude’s report, and recommendations contained therein, and the recent class action settlement by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish will provide a path for the future and other institutions facing allegations of sexual abuse.

Continue reading " Cornwall Inquiry Finds “Systemic Failures” to Blame for Historic Sexual Abuse " »

Priest Convicted of Sexual Abuse 20 years Ago

More than 20 years ago Father James Hickey was convicted of sexually abusing a number of alter boys in the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Johns, Newfoundland.

Since then, the boys, now men, who were sexually abused by Hickey, have been fighting the Catholic Church in Court seeking compensation for their injuries.

The St. Johns Telegram has reported that the Diocese has finally agreed to settle one of the lawsuits for $200,000.00.

I have reported before of the efforts of the Church to fight the claims of abuse survivors.

Why the Antigonish Diocese Sexual Abuse Class Action Settlement is the Right Thing to do.

Perhaps this survivor can move forward with his life, now that the Diocese has been held accountable for the abuse he suffered.

Continue reading " Newfoundland Diocese Agrees to $200,000.00 Sex Abuse Settlement " »

Pope Benedict XVI has issued a statement saying he"shares the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland (over) these heinous crimes," over reports that church leaders in Ireland covered up sexual abuse by priests for decades.

Just a Few Bad Apples

The Pope’s statement expressed his “profound regret” at the actions of “some members of the clergy”.

Church Not to Blame?

In other words, this isn’t the fault of the Church; it’s not the responsibility of the Pope or the Vatican. The decades long cover up involving four consecutive Archbishops who covered up thousands of cases of sexual abuse by priests is just another isolated case of "some members of the clergy" who betrayed the trust placed in them by the victims, their families and their parishioners.

The statement indicates that the Pope intends to write a pastoral letter to Catholics in Ireland indicating what steps the church intends to take in response to the abuse allegations.

Lesson to be Learned

Perhaps the Pope should take a lesson from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

The Diocese of Antigonish has fully accepted responsibility for the sexual abuse perpetrated by priests of the Diocese and has created a program to compensate survivors of sexual abuse by its priests.

What do you think? Is the Irish abuse scandal the result of a few misguided priests or evidence of a systematic cover up by the Catholic Church?

Class Action Deadline

December 4, 2009 was an important deadline under the class action settlement agreement reached with the Diocese of Antigonish. If anyone opted out of the class action settlement on or before December 4, 2009, the Diocese had the right to pull out of the class action.

Similarly, if more than 70 people came forward before December 4, 2009 indicating that they wanted to pursue a claim against the Diocese, Ron Martin had the option to pull out of the class action.

Tremendous Support for Class Action
There has been overwhelming support for the class action from survivors. The feedback that we received from the survivors who have contacted us have unanimously supported Ron Martin and the class action settlement.

I think one of the survivors put it best:

“I survived so many years thinking I was alone, and it was my fault, with no one to turn to. I give all my support to Ron Martin and the class action.”

Some People Have Opted Out
I have been advised by counsel for the Diocese that the Diocese has received some opt out forms from people who do not want to be part of the class action settlement.

Therefore, under the terms of the settlement agreement conditions were met that would have allowed either the Diocese or Ron Martin to pull out of the class action.

Parties Have Agreed to Move Forward

I am pleased to announce that the Diocese and Ron Martin have agreed NOT to exercise their option to pull out of the class action. Therefore the Antigonish Diocese Class Action Settlement is now final and will proceed as planned.

Historic Day

This is a historic day. This is the first time that the Catholic Church has acknowledged its responsibility to survivors of sexual abuse. This is also an important day because Ron Martin has finally been able to fulfill the promise that he made to his brother to ensure that he, and everyone else who was sexually abused by a priest of the Antigonish Diocese, would be able to receive accountability for what happened to them.

Thank You

On behalf of Ron Martin, I would like to thank all of the class members who have supported Ron Martin in his efforts. It has been a long and difficult road to this day. The Class Members and the parishioners of the Antigonish Diocese will now be able to move forward so that survivors can receive compensation and, more importantly, accountability. It is also my hope that for some survivors this process will provide some measure of reconciliation with the Catholic Church.

Continue reading " ANTIGONISH CLASS ACTION TO MOVE FORWARD! " »