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	Survivors of Pedophile Priest to Hold Vigil By Jane Sims The London Free Press October 6, 2007 http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2007/10/06/4554661-sun.html One year after their abuser was sent to jail, the victims of a pedophile Roman Catholic priest plan to gather and remember. Tonight, some of the victims of Rev. Charles Sylvestre plan to meet outside Chatham's St. Ursula's parish — the church with the most victims in the criminal case —for a candlelight vigil. "I think it's a part of our healing," said Lou Ann Soontiens of Chatham, a survivor of Sylvestre's abuse. A year ago, Sylvestre, 84, was found guilty of 47 counts of indecent assault and sent to prison for three years. He was convicted for decades of sexual abuse on girls who attended his parishes in Windsor, Sarnia, London, Chatham and Pain Court. Sylvestre died just three months into his sentence at a Kingston prison. Since then, the 47 women who came forward with criminal charges have lobbied for changes in the church and quick settlements to their lawsuits. So far, the London diocese has responded with changes to their sexual abuse policy and code of conduct. But recently, survivors have been frustrated by the delays in their civil actions. Soontiens said they were promised "a speedy, compassionate resolution." "It's not going that way," she said. The women welcome all who want to attend. They are meeting outside the church at 6 p.m. Some unable to be there plan to participate by lighting candles in their own homes. "It's a sign of energy for the survivors — for all the survivors, not just the court case survivors," said Carolyn Jewell of London. Jewell plans to light her candle between noon and 3 p.m., the hours when Sylvestre was sent off to prison from a Chatham courtroom. Soontiens said that courtroom moment signalled the women were finally believed. "We're going to remember this for the rest of our lives. It's never going to go away," she said. jsims@lfpress.com
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