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	Bradley Chided for Comments; Mayor Says Abuse Issue One Reason for Church Closing By Jack Poirier The Observer [Canada] June 29, 2007 http://www.theobserver.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=592609&catname=Local%20News&classif= Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is under fire from the sexual assault victims of disgraced Catholic priest Charles Sylvestre. In an interview this week with CBC radio, Bradley said in addition to declining numbers, a shortage of priests and building costs, that civil litigation against the church was a factor in the closing of three dozen churches within the London diocese, including St. Peter's in Sarnia. In response, a local victim said Bradley's comments inadvertently placed blame for the closing of churches on sexual abuse victims who have sought compensation for the injustices they suffered. "I find it offensive," said Sarnia's Dianne Gauthier, one of 47 women sexually abused as a child by Sylvestre. Sylvestre died in January while serving a three-year prison sentence. Gauthier said litigation against the church may be a small contributing factor, but to have a person of Bradley's stature making public comments about it makes victims feel guilty. In the case of St. Peter's, Gauthier said that given all the emotional lobbying done by the Italian community to spare it, there is bound to be some hard feelings over its closing. "I really think people are looking for someone to blame (for St. Peter's closing) and they're looking at the victims," Gauthier said. Bradley told The Observer that while he has the greatest of sympathy for the victims, he was merely stating the fact that civil litigation against the church is a contributing factor to church closings. "There's a wide variety of reasons behind the closings . . . and the church's need to deal with the many legal issues . . . not just the Sylvestre case, is just one," Bradley said. Bradley was responding to a letter sent to him by Rob Talach, a London lawyer representing the Sylvestre sexual abuse victims. In his letter, Talach said many victims of clergy sexual abuse continue to feel shame and guilt for what they went through. "They also feel guilty for raising the issue years later and for seeking justice and compensation through the legal process available to them," Talach wrote. "While you may not appreciate it, comments such as yours appear to lay blame for the closure of beloved parishes at the feet of the victims." Bradley said he never intended for his comments to offend and said he wasn't specifically targeting Sylvestre's sexual assault victims. "This is a lawyer's opinion on comments he didn't hear all of," Bradley said. "It's very unfortunate (that legal issues are a factor), but it's a reality." Contact: Jack Poirier jpoirier@theobserver.ca
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