Retired Catholic priest in P.E.I. sentenced to 5 years in prison for 1980s child sexual abuse
Brendon Earl Gallant served in more than a dozen parishes before retiring in 2018
WARNING: This story contains disturbing descriptions of child sex abuse. Resources and supports for anyone who has experienced sexual violence can be found at the bottom of this story.
A retired Catholic priest in Prince Edward Island who pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing a child in the late 1980s at St. Margarets Parish has been sentenced to five years in a federal prison.
Brendon Earl Gallant, 80, was sentenced Tuesday in provincial court in Charlottetown. He pleaded guilty last summer to a charge of sexual assault.
The court heard the victim was 12 years old when Gallant took an interest in the child and began inviting him for sleepovers, where he would give the boy alcohol and invite him to sleep in his bed.
“I just want to say from the bottom of my heart I am truly sorry,” Gallant told the court before sentencing.
Gallant met the victim in the summer of 1988 while serving as a priest at the northeastern P.E.I. parish.
According to an agreed statement of facts, the child was particularly vulnerable at the time as his mother had been diagnosed with cancer.
Gallant invited the boy for overnight stays on several occasions. Despite other beds being available, the two slept in the same bed.
The abuse included fondling the boy’s body and genitals. The victim recalled one occasion when he woke up feeling sore, went to the bathroom and found blood in the toilet. He believes there was an attempt at penetrative sex.
In a police interview, Gallant admitted he had invited the boy into his bed with the intent of having sex during the initial visit, though he denied that the abuse happened.
The victim came forward in 2023. Gallant was arrested in March 2025, and the RCMP laid charges two months later. Court documents described him as "emotional and remorseful" at the time of his arrest.
Gallant will be subject to several conditions following his release.
He is prohibited from being within two kilometres of where the victim lives or works. He is also barred for 10 years from attending public parks, swimming areas, school grounds, daycares, community centres or any other places where children under 16 are present or could reasonably be expected to be.
He is prohibited from going within two kilometers of any place of education and cannot accept any employment that would place him in a position of trust.
As a registered sex offender, Gallant must report to a registration centre within seven days of his release and continue reporting for 20 years. Authorities will track details including his address and whereabouts. Failure to comply could result in new criminal charges.
Gallant is also subject to restrictions on weapon possession. A DNA order requires him to provide a sample for the national DNA databank.
During the course of his career, Gallant served as a priest in more than a dozen parishes across Prince Edward Island.
His postings included Catholic churches in Cardigan, Little Pond, St. Georges, Georgetown, Souris, Charlottetown, Glenwood, Brae, Alberton, Bloomfield, Foxley River, St. Charles and Burton. He retired in 2018 after his final posting in Tignish.
The Diocese of Charlottetown has apologized for Gallant’s actions and said he was removed from active ministry as soon as the diocese learned of the investigation.
Portugal’s Catholic Church to pay more than €1.6 million to victims of child sexual abuse
Each victim to receive between €9,000 and €45,000
Portugal Catholic Church has announced that (some of the) victims of child sexual abuse at the hands of priests over the years, will finally be receiving financial compensation, to the tune of more than €1.6 million.
Each of the victims whose complaints were ‘upheld’, will be receiving amounts between €9,000 and €45,000.
Of the 95 requests for compensation received after the shocking exposé of sexual deviance within the Church, 78 were considered ‘eligible’, explains the episcopal conference (made up of the Church’s bishops), while 17 were archived.
“Of those considered eligible, 11 were rejected, 57 were given the greenlight for compensation, totalling €1,609,650,” writes noticiasaominuto – adding that the amount, and number of victims to be compensation, is expected to increase: there are still nine applications “in the final phase of analysis”, and one other that awaits the decision of the Holy See.
Financial compensation cannot undo what happened
During the presentation, which was also held via video link, the episcopal conference addressed the victims of abuse to ask for forgiveness. “We do so with deep respect for their pain and in the knowledge that we are faced with deep wounds that have left a lasting mark on their lives. We recognise the gravity of the suffering endured, so often borne in silence for years; we are truly grateful for the testimony you have entrusted to us and we renew our plea for forgiveness for all the harm caused,” stated the bishops, aware that compensation does not “undo what happened”.
“We know that attribution of financial compensation does not undoo what happened, or eliminate the consequences of the abuses in the lives of those who suffered them.
“With this concrete gesture, the Church in Portugal wants to recognise the suffering, and the dignity of each person who endured such abuse, seeking to provide whatever redress is possible for the harm suffered. This is not an isolated act, but part of a responsibility that the Church must assume with humility, as part of a broader commitment that includes listening, support, prevention and intervention through the relevant agencies.”
Explaining some of the reasons for ‘rejecting’ claims*, the bishops stressed that every situation will be dealt with with respect for confidentiality and dignity of those concerned.
All victims will be receiving written notifications (no time scale given), explaining whether or not their requests for compensation have been approved, with all the necessary back-up details.
Today’s announcement has been a very long time in coming: the ‘shock report’ about abuse within the Church was published almost four years ago, and the process of hearing victims and considering claims, has in the eyes of many, been eked out unnecessarily.
*Among grounds for rejecting claims ‘are cases where the complainant was of legal age at the time of the events and it was not established that they were a vulnerable adult, cases where the accused was not a member of the clergy nor held any office or responsibilities within the Church, and cases that did not involve sexual violence.
Pastor, wife arrested after he sexually abused foster child, police say
By WIS News 10 Staff, Deric Rush and Amanda Alvarado
Published: Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM EDT|Updated: 6 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - A pastor and his wife are facing charges after he allegedly sexually abused a foster child.
The Richland County sheriff’s office said Rodney Gibson and Kawiana Young, both 50, are charged with unlawful conduct with a minor.
Gibson is also charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, unlawful conduct toward a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Authorities said a victim came forward on March 12 about alleged sexual abuse they endured while in foster care at Gibson and Young’s home.
The victim said Gibson sexually assaulted them numerous times from age 15 until they aged out of the foster care system.
During an investigation, officials learned that a minor was living with Gibson and Young. Investigators said the minor told them they had been sexually abused by Gibson and physically abused by Young. The minor was taken into emergency protective custody on March 18.
During an emergency protective custody hearing on March 20, a family court judge returned the minor to Gibson and Young’s home.
Arrest warrants for the couple were obtained “after conducting subsequent interviews and obtaining additional evidence.” On April 1, they were arrested and the minor was placed back into emergency protective custody.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services said in a statement that Young was a licensed foster parent from June 2021 until June 2025. The agency added that she cared for six children in her home, but voluntarily relinquished her foster parent license.
The agency said there was no mention of Gibson living at the home and his name was not on the license. Young also never reported that she was married, saying she was not in a relationship.
The agency said it is cooperating in the investigation.
Gibson is a pastor at Pathway 2 Hope Ministries. Young owns and operates DreamCatcher Child Development Center. Both are in Columbia, South Carolina.
A community member said the news was “shocking.”
“It’s really shocking. You think you know a person, but you never really know what they’re capable of. I’m going to wait until the legal process plays out, but if it’s true, it’s very disturbing,” they said.
Gibson and Young were released on bond on April 2. Gibson was granted a $75,000 bond, while Young received a $10,000 bond.
Authorities believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to report it or submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
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