BishopAccountability.org
	Local Priest Helps Catholics through Ordeal By Natalie Musseau Gulf News January 22, 2008 http://www.gulfnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=100107&sc=342 Father Lee Lainey is doing his best to offer support to Catholics along the southwest coast dealing with a legacy of abuse by a former priest. Father Lainey said the long road of finding out about the sexual abuse, court cases and issues with the payment of compensation to the victims started some 18 years ago and will likely go on for some time to come. While he admits that a few people have stopped attending church because of the issue, the ordeal has brought most Catholics closer together as a community. "It was certainly very difficult and continues to be difficult," said Father Lainey. He said Catholics would like to see the matter finally reach conclusion so that they can put it behind them. That's Father Lainey's greatest personal wish as well. "Unfortunately, it's going to take some time yet." In the meantime, he will continue to provide his congregations with any new information and support people however he can. About 1,400 Catholics attend churches in South Branch, Upper Ferry, St. Andrew's and Port aux Basques. "No one said having faith would be easy," he said, adding faith will give church members the strength they need to endure. Father Lainey said much of the anger felt by church members stemmed not only from the abuse itself, but the fact the diocese knew what was happening and took no action to stop it. He said it's even harder for clergy to deal with the situation, the damage done by one of their own. "The fact remains that the vast majority of clergy are good people." Father Lainey admitted he occasionally encounters cynicism from some people about clergy, but said most people are supportive and understanding and have been since he decided to enter the priesthood six years ago. He was in high school when former priest Kevin Bennett was convicted in 1990 of abuse dating back to the 1960s. Mr. Bennett was the parish priest in Father Lainey's hometown of Cape St. George at the time. "People were shocked," said Father Lainey, describing a culture where it was largely believed that the priest could do no wrong. Yet, he said, friends and family supported his decision to become a priest. Diocese liable The St. George's Roman Catholic Diocese was found directly and vicariously liable for the abuse in a 2004 Supreme Court ruling. A group of some 40 victims accepted a nearly $14 million settlement in 2005. Half of that sum was repaid to the victims, the church's ability to pay the remaining money is now in question. Father Lainey said the diocese struggled to find the more than $7 million already paid to the victims. Church leaders had to figure out how to compensate the victims and keep the diocese going. The decision to buy back core properties under a new corporation was to protect them from any future claims, according to Father Lainey. He said the diocese did that to fulfill its obligations to church members who were worried they would lose their community places of worship. The new corporation used donations from both inside and outside the local diocese to repurchase the properties. However, Father Lainey said it wouldn't be fair to ask Catholics in other parts of the world, who bear no responsibility, to help repay the debt to the victims. Discussions between the diocese and its insurers are still ongoing. Father Lainey said progress has been made in getting them to pay for the outstanding claims, but there is still a long way to go. Father Lainey described the situation as a journey that Catholics must take together as a community, with God's help. He said abuse is not only an issue within the church. "I believe the church has to deal with the issue of abuse, but society has to as well," he said. Father Lainey believes the diocese will take the proper measures in the future to deal with abuse so this type of situation need never happen again. Contact: nmusseau@gulfnews.ca
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