CANADA
CBC News
Last Updated Tue, 26 Jul 2005 13:10:58 EDT
A Roman Catholic diocese in Newfoundland issued a formal apology Monday for the sexual abuse inflicted on dozens of boys by one of its priests.
But the lawyer representing the victims says it's 16 years too late.
Father Kevin Bennett was convicted in 1990 of sexually abusing 36 boys while he worked in the St. George's diocese, largely in communities on the island's south coast. He served four years in prison.
Bishop Douglas Crosby issued the apology and said he regrets the court battle over the abuse took so long.
Greg Stack, who represents the victims, says it's a skimpy apology, given evidence at Bennett's trial that the bishops of the day were aware of the abuse and did nothing about it.