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	Survivors Applauded; Community Reacts to Sylvestre CBC Report By Lindsey Coad Chatham Daily News [Canada] March 2, 2007 http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/webapp/sitepages/search/results.asp?content ID=428245&catname=Local%20News&type=search&search1=sylvestre Survivors of pedophile priest Charles sylvestre should be applauded for speaking out in a national documentary, a local advocate says. Michelle Batty, executive director of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Centre of Sarnia-Lambton, was reacting to CBC's Fifth Estate piece that aired last night. "It is only when one of them speak out that changes can start happening. By coming forward they've made it easier for others to come forward," she said. The women strengthened the message that children should be believed by adults upon disclosure, Batty said. "There's a lot of secrecy about it. People don't want to believe somebody that they respect, in positions of authority, would actually do something like that." The late Catholic priest was convicted last fall of sexually abusing 47 girls from 1952 to 1986 while he served in Sarnia, London, Chatham, Windsor and Pain Court. His crimes ranged from fondling to alleged impregnation. More victims have come forward since his conviction. Irene Jeannette Williams, who was featured in the documentary, told Sarnia Police about her abuse around 1961. Nothing was done and sylvestre was shuffled to another parish. Williams said the documentary was well done. "They told the truth and they showed the truth that the Diocese knew about this and did nothing back then," Williams said. "Hopefully it will bring strength to other survivors of sexual abuse. It's OK to speak out because it's a healing process. What I'm so glad about is that people realize we told the truth." sylvestre's crimes caught up with him in 2005 when the Chatham-Kent Police investigated. The documentary included a clip from the police interrogation. "It made me ill when he said, 'What do you want me to do? Cry and say I did it?' It was obvious he had no remorse," Williams said. Sarnia victim Dianne Gauthier said the CBC did a good job of telling victims' stories respectfully. The church has to realize that their priests are not immune to becoming child molestors, she said. "I'm looking for the change. The change has to happen (within) the church," Gauthier said. Batty is on a new committee that includes Bishop Ronald Fabbro, London Diocese members and the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre. An $80,000 project, From Isolation to Action, is being funded by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat and the Diocese to communicate abuse policy changes, seek input and provide a support network. "Hopefully it will be beneficial," Gauthier said. Batty called it a good step forward, noting it's the first time the agency has been invited to the table in 25 years.
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