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	Sex-Abuse Workshops Set The London Catholic Diocese Ordered the Plan in the Wake of a Priest's Indecent Assault Case By Jonathan Sher London Free Press [Canada] January 15, 2007 http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2007/01/15/3382443-sun.html Priests, deacons and other leaders in the London Catholic Diocese must attend workshops on sexual abuse where they will hear from the victims, the diocese says. The workshops, to be held this month and in March, were announced by Bishop Ronald Fabbro, who pledged last year to fight abuse in the church after a disgraced priest pleaded guilty to 47 counts of indecent assault. "This workshop will be a key component in fulfilling my commitment to eradicate all forms of abuse in our diocese," Fabbro said in a news release. "It will give us the opportunity to talk openly about this issue and the steps we need to take," Fabbro wrote. Anyone who might be in a position of authority over children must attend sessions scheduled Jan. 17 and 31, diocese spokesperson Ron Pickersgill said during the weekend. Others who work for the diocese are also invited to attend. Those expected to speak include: - Victims of abuse and organizations that support victims. - Chatham-Kent Crown Attorney Paul Bailey, who prosecuted the case against priest Charles Sylvestre in Chatham. - London psychologist Alan Leschied. After input from presenters and feedback from participants the diocese will create a new abuse police and code of conduct that it will then present to Church leaders in sessions to be conducted in March, Pickersgill said. Sylvestre, an octogenarian showing early signs of dementia, was sentenced last year to three years in prison. He abused girls ages nine to 14 from 1952 to 1989. Victims attended churches in Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham and Pain Court and Mount St. Joseph's academy in London. Last year Fabbro delivered a notable homily and promised to try to end the scourge of sexual abuse. "I apologize for the failure of the church to protect the victims and their families from Father Sylvestre,"Fabbro said.
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