Seventy men who launched a class action lawsuit against clergy accused of sexual abuse have been awarded compensation.
It's the first time in Quebec, Canada that this type of case has gone to trial, instead of being settled out of court.
Redemptorists are a Catholic Order which exists in 77 countries. Redemptorists seek to put into action the command of Christ Jesus to “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). How utterly dreadful! Obviously at least some have completely lost that vision. I don't know how many Catholic orders there are, but do you know of any male-oriented orders that have not been convicted of child sex abuse?
After three months of deliberation, Superior Court Judge Claude Bouchard ordered the Redemptorist Order of Catholic priests, the Seminaire St-Alphonse and Rev. Raymond-Marie Lavoie to pay $75,000 to each claimant.
According to the decision, the victims can make an application for that amount to be doubled if they believed the abuse suffered and the resulting damage was significant enough that it justifies additional compensation.
The main claimant, Frank Tremblay, who has already spoken publicly about the abuse he suffered as a student at Séminaire Saint-Alphonse was automatically awarded the doubled amount.
Lawyers representing the men who attended the private boarding school in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré near Quebec City alleged there was systemic abuse and a cover-up at the school during the '70s and '80s.
Serge Létourneau, a lawyer in the case, said that two of the alleged abusers were once principals at the school and also sat on the provincial executive committee of the Redemptorist Order.
In 2011, Lavoie pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 13 children and is serving a five-year sentence.
During the trial, 12 men testified about being molested regularly in their youth.
The victims said the abuse happened in their dorm rooms — located in a house where five priests stayed — and at a chalet the Redemptorist Order owned.
Victims will try to claim an additional $16 million for exemplary damages in a separate court case.
It's the first time in Quebec, Canada that this type of case has gone to trial, instead of being settled out of court.
After three months of deliberation, Superior Court Judge Claude Bouchard ordered the Redemptorist Order of Catholic priests, the Seminaire St-Alphonse and Rev. Raymond-Marie Lavoie to pay $75,000 to each claimant.
According to the decision, the victims can make an application for that amount to be doubled if they believed the abuse suffered and the resulting damage was significant enough that it justifies additional compensation.
The main claimant, Frank Tremblay, who has already spoken publicly about the abuse he suffered as a student at Séminaire Saint-Alphonse was automatically awarded the doubled amount.
Lawyers representing the men who attended the private boarding school in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré near Quebec City alleged there was systemic abuse and a cover-up at the school during the '70s and '80s.
Serge Létourneau, a lawyer in the case, said that two of the alleged abusers were once principals at the school and also sat on the provincial executive committee of the Redemptorist Order.
In 2011, Lavoie pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 13 children and is serving a five-year sentence.
During the trial, 12 men testified about being molested regularly in their youth.
The victims said the abuse happened in their dorm rooms — located in a house where five priests stayed — and at a chalet the Redemptorist Order owned.
Victims will try to claim an additional $16 million for exemplary damages in a separate court case.
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