Sexual abuse scandal in St. John's archdiocese
Encyclopedia
The sexual abuse scandal in St. John's archdiocese is an important chapter in the series of clerical abuse affairs
that occurred in the dioceses of Canada.
In February 2009, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled that the Roman Catholic Church in St. John’s was responsible ("vicariously liable") for the sexual abuse of eight former altar boys by disgraced priest, Reverend James Hickey.
in Newfoundland. The religious order that ran the orphanage filed for bankruptcy in the face of numerous lawsuits
. Since the Mount Cashel scandal erupted, a number of priests across the country have been accused of sexual abuse.
was a Canadian royal commission
which concluded that officials had transferred offenders and covered up the sexual abuse at Mount Cashel. It recommended that victims be compensated.
. These allegations were recounted in 2009 when Bishop Lahey was subsequently arrested for separate allegations involving illicit pornography (cf sexual abuse scandal in Antigonish diocese
).
resigned his position after a commission of inquiry, which he personally appointed, found that he was probably aware of sexual abuse of children by priests in his archdiocese.
responded by unveiling tough guidelines, calling for fairness and openness to all allegations, stressing the need to "respect" the jurisdiction of outside authorities, and recommending counselling and compassion for the victims. However, some assert that, the bishops' guidelines notwithstanding, the sexual abuse problems have not been adequately addressed.
).
Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Canada
The Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Canada is centered in Newfoundland dioceses, although there has been abuse in most Canadian provinces.-British Columbia:Joseph Lang, a Terrace, B.C., priest placed on "administrative leave" in April 2002...
that occurred in the dioceses of Canada.
James Hickey affair
In September 1988, Fr. James Hickey pled guilty to 20 charges of sexual assault, gross indecency and indecent assault involving teenage boys while he was a parish priest on the Burin Peninsula. He spent five years in prison. Despite Hickey’s criminal conviction the Roman Catholic Church fought the victim’s claims for compensation for over 20 years.In February 2009, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled that the Roman Catholic Church in St. John’s was responsible ("vicariously liable") for the sexual abuse of eight former altar boys by disgraced priest, Reverend James Hickey.
Mount Cashel orphanage scandal
In 1988, a scandal erupted over allegations of widespread abuse of children at Mount Cashel OrphanageMount Cashel Orphanage
The Mount Cashel Orphanage is a former Canadian orphanage that was operated by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. It was located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
in Newfoundland. The religious order that ran the orphanage filed for bankruptcy in the face of numerous lawsuits
Sexual abuse scandal in the Congregation of Christian Brothers
The sexual abuse scandal in the Congregation of Christian Brothers is a major chapter in the series of Catholic sex abuse cases in various Western juridictions.-Abuse in the United States of America:...
. Since the Mount Cashel scandal erupted, a number of priests across the country have been accused of sexual abuse.
Hughes Inquiry
The Hughes InquiryHughes Inquiry
The Hughes Inquiry was a Canadian royal commission launched after allegations of sexual abuse by members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers at Mount Cashel Orphanage in Newfoundland....
was a Canadian royal commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
which concluded that officials had transferred offenders and covered up the sexual abuse at Mount Cashel. It recommended that victims be compensated.
Allegations against bishop Lahey
In 1989, Fr. Kevin Molloy went to former St. John’s archbishop Alphonsus Liguori Penney to report that a child had seen pornography at the home of a priest Raymond LaheyRaymond Lahey
Raymond John Lahey B.Th. L.Th. Ph.D. D.D. is Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia. Lahey resigned from his position at the Catholic Church after being charged with possession of child pornography when members of the Canada Border Services Agency discovered...
. These allegations were recounted in 2009 when Bishop Lahey was subsequently arrested for separate allegations involving illicit pornography (cf sexual abuse scandal in Antigonish diocese
Sexual abuse scandal in Antigonish diocese
The sexual abuse scandal in Antigonish diocese relates to allegations of sexual abuse connected to the Roman Catholic clergy that occurred in the Canadian diocese of Antigonish.-Reaching settlements for old 1950s cases:...
).
Resignation of bishop Penney
Bishop Alphonsus Liguori PenneyAlphonsus Liguori Penney
Archbishop Alphonsus Liguori Penney is a Canadian Roman Catholic priest who was Archbishop of St.John's from 1979-1991.-Sexual abuse scandal:...
resigned his position after a commission of inquiry, which he personally appointed, found that he was probably aware of sexual abuse of children by priests in his archdiocese.
1992 guidelines from the CCCB
In 1992, the Canadian Catholic bishopsCanadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is the national assembly of the Bishops of the Catholic Church in Canada. It was founded in 1943 and was officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. Since the Second Vatican Council, it became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences,...
responded by unveiling tough guidelines, calling for fairness and openness to all allegations, stressing the need to "respect" the jurisdiction of outside authorities, and recommending counselling and compassion for the victims. However, some assert that, the bishops' guidelines notwithstanding, the sexual abuse problems have not been adequately addressed.
2003 Supreme Court decision
In 2003, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Roman Catholic Church is responsible (vicariously liable) for sexual abuse by its priests (cf Doe v. BennettDoe v. Bennett
John Doe v. Bennett, 2004 SCC 17 is a legal ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada which upheld the lower court's decision that the ecclesiastical corporation, Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St...
).
See also
- AbuseAbuseAbuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
- Child abuseChild abuseChild abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
- Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
- Religious abuse
- Sexual abuseSexual abuseSexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
- Sexual misconductSexual misconductSexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature. The term may be used to condemn an act, but in some jurisdictions it has also a legal meaning....
- Spiritual abuseSpiritual abuseSpiritual abuse is a serious form of abuse which occurs when a person in a cult-religious authority or a person with a unique spiritual practice misleads and maltreats another person in the name of a deityor church or in the mystery of any spiritual concept...
- Woodstock defence