ANTIGONISH- The Diocese of Antigonish and its Roman Catholic parishes are attempting to gauge the financial fallout from a $13-million settlement reached between the diocese and victims of sexual abuse by diocesan priests.
Diocesan officials including Bishop Raymond Lahey met with hundreds of members of the parishes’ finance committees and pastoral councils in Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish and Sydney over a two-day period last week, in the aftermath of the August 7 announcement that the diocese would compensate all victims of clergy-driven sexual abuse that have occurred between 1950 and 2009.
The day after the settlement announcement in Halifax, letters were sent to all churches within the Diocese of Antigonish, advising parishioners that “real sacrifice and severe consequences” will be involved to make the compensation payments over the next three to four years.
“This money will have to come from both the diocese itself and all our parishes,” Bishop Raymond Lahey stated in the letter.
“There is no insurance to cover this, there is no bailout money, and we all know that we live in an area where there is real economic hardship. But we can and will deal with this situation in an orderly and fair manner, and we will try both to minimize the hardship that will be involved and to protect the core assets of each of our parishes.”
Speaking to The Reporter following last week’s meetings, including a gathering of close to 100 representatives of Strait area parishes at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Port Hawkesbury, Bishop Lahey reiterated that his office’s accountants have confirmed that the settlement money exists within the current diocesan structure, and that the payments can be made without plunging the diocese or its parishes into bankruptcy.
“These meetings are not a means to an end,” Bishop Lahey pointed out.
He also stressed that the diocese does not plan to close or sell any of its current structures, and poured cold water on the concept that larger parishes such as St. Joseph’s are being asked to assume the brunt of the diocese’s financial load.
“We are asking all our parishes to take a serious look at our current situation,” Bishop Lahey explained.
“It will take time to get a clearer picture of the complete financial impact this will have on our diocese and on the parishes. We are budgeting for a worst-case scenario of between $10 million and $15 million. In practice, this could be less.”
In addition to its financial discussions with the parishes, Bishop Lahey announced that he has committed to a Service of Reconciliation and Healing, with the hopes that such a service “might assist the healing of the emotional scars that have separated the [abuse] victims from our church, and have also, although in far lesser ways, scarred us all.”
The settlement ended a legal challenge spearheaded by New Waterford native Ron Martin, who claimed that he and his brother were both abused by Fr. Hugh Vincent MacDonald during their childhood.
In addition to Fr. MacDonald, who passed away in 2004, the original class-action lawsuit named other specific priests involved in previous abuse claims and convictions, including Fr. Clair Richard, Fr. Claude Richard, Fr. James Mombourquette, Fr. Frank MacNeil and Fr. Michael MacNeil. However, the compensation figure is extended to anyone who is confirmed as a victim of abuse by a diocesan priest in the past 59 years.