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	Priests Hear from Victims about Clergyman's Abuse CBC News [Canada] February 1, 2007 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/01/priest-workshop.html Women who were sexually abused by an Ontario priest shared their stories Wednesday with more than 100 priests at a workshop about abuse in the church. The women were all abused as girls by Charles Sylvestre, a Roman Catholic priest from Belle River, Ont. Sylvester, convicted in October 2006, died last week at the age of 84, having served just three months of his three-year sentence in a Kingston jail. One of his victims, Tammie McKay, described the pain of her memories at the workshop in London, Ont. "Mr. Sylvester's threats to silence me paralyzed me from reaching out," she told the priests. "If you can't trust a priest who is supposed to represent God, who are you supposed to trust?" Another of the victims, Kelly Anne Appleton, told those at the workshop how the abuse affected her. "I am ashamed to call myself a Catholic," said Appleton, who was only 10 when she was abused. 'It hurts me to the core of who I am' The workshop was designed to educate and raise awareness about the issue of sexual abuse by clergy. Local priests were required to attend and Wednesday's testimonials will be used to shape a sexual abuse policy at the diocese. Rev. Peter Keller said it was heart-wrenching to imagine the pain caused by a fellow priest. "It hurts me to the core of who I am," he said. The workshop was hosted by the Roman Catholic diocese of London, where Sylvestre committed some of his abuses. He also abused girls — 47 in total — in parishes in Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham-Kent and Pain Court. After he pleaded guilty, the diocese of London issued a formal apology to Sylvestre's victims for failing to protect them. The workshop was taped and DVD copies will be distributed to all bishops in Canada. Related articles: Elderly Ontario Priest Convicted of Abuse Dies in Jail Former Ont. Priest Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
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