ANTIGONISH - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish has given a formal apology and prepared a $13-million settlement to victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests who served in the diocese over the past six decades.
Bishop Raymond Lahey offered the apology and presented details of the settlement at a press conference on Friday afternoon in Halifax. He was seated alongside Ron Martin, a New Waterford native who alleged that he and his brother David were both abused as children by Father Hugh Vincent MacDonald, who has served in several parishes in Guysborough, Antigonish and Pictou Counties in addition to the Sydney area.
Following David Martin’s suicide in 2002, his brother and other alleged abuse victims filed lawsuits against the diocese and Bishop Lahey. In January, Martin joined forces with Halifax lawyer John McKiggan to launch a class-action lawsuit against the diocese and the bishop on behalf of all persons who were sexually abused by priests in the diocese between 1950 and 2009.
While the suit named specific priests involved in previous abuse claims and convictions, including Fr. MacDonald - who passed away in 2004 - as well as Fr. Clair Richard, Fr. Claude Richard, Fr. James Mombourquette, Fr. Frank MacNeil and Fr. Michael MacNeil, the compensation figure is extended to anyone who is confirmed as a victim of abuse by a diocesan priest in the past 59 years.
“I was very eager, from the very beginning, to have a conclusion that was as quick as possible, and a conclusion that was as fair and respectful to the victims as possible,” Bishop Lahey told The Reporter Monday afternoon.
“I can say for myself that it was clearly something that was wrong, and we wanted to right the wrongs as much as we could do...I think, to put it very bluntly, we were called upon to do the right thing and to deal with the realities that were there, and to recognize that this is, really, an abuse.”
While McKiggan did not return an interview request by press time, a statement on his Web site commends both sides for their ability to reach an agreement, which must still receive approval from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in a two-day hearing that begins September 10.
“The settlement process was negotiated by Ron Martin and the Antigonish Diocese in order to provide a fair, impartial and respectful process to evaluate the claims of sexual abuse survivors that avoids the necessity of having to file public lawsuits or testify in court,” McKiggan wrote.
“The settlement agreement creates a private, out-of-court resolution process to evaluate and settle claims by anyone who suffered sexual abuse by a priest employed by the Diocese of Antigonish.”
While the $13-million compensation figure was approved by the diocese and its accountants in addition to legal officials and the abuse victims represented in the original suit, Bishop Lahey is warning that the diocese and individual parishes may face “challenges” as a result.
“We have been assured by our accountants that we are able to make the funds available without going into bankruptcy, but at the same time, that is going to require a lot of sacrifice on a lot of people’s parts,” Bishop Lahey predicted.
“The particular ramifications for particular parishes are going to be something that we’re going to have to sort out over a longer time.”
However, the bishop feels that his office’s actions concerning the settlement are supported by Catholics throughout the diocese, which covers all of Cape Breton Island as well as the counties of Guysborough, Antigonish and Pictou.
“I think people are very supportive, and I think the people of the diocese, for the most part, think that we’re doing the right thing and want to put this behind them in a responsible fashion,” Bishop Lahey suggested.
“I would hope that any settlement that deals with victims of abuse would respect the fact that they are victims and that they have suffered.”
More information on the class action suit is available at the Web site: www.dioceseclassaction.com.