BishopAccountability.org
	Rant and Rave Shades of Grey By Natalie Musseau Gulf News January 22, 2008 http://www.gulfnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=100108&sc=343 It would be much easier if all of life's questions had clear-cut answers. But, more often than not, those answers are hidden in varying shades of grey. That's where the St. George's Catholic Diocese now finds itself. For some 20 years, former priest Kevin Bennett sexually abused boys in various parishes in the diocese. He was convicted in 1990. In a civil lawsuit that concluded in 2004, Canada's Supreme Court found the diocese directly and vicariously liable for the abuse suffered by 36 victims. While the victims originally asked for more than $50 million in compensation, they agreed to a proposal that would see the church turn over about $13 million. That amount rose to almost $14 million when more victims came forward. The diocese, having filed for bankruptcy protection, went about putting its properties up for sale to help raise the money. But now, with nearly all the properties sold, the diocese says its does have any money left and few other properties left to sell. The victims are still owed some $7 million. The whole exercise appeared to take on a darker shade when it was revealed that a new corporation, controlled by the diocese, purchased many of the important buildings. Greg Stack, the victims' lawyer, questions if this was the right thing to do. He says the church is trying to run away from its obligations and, again, doing wrong by the abuse victims. Bishop Douglas Crosby, who heads the diocese, says the donations were specifically intended to help the church keep going. The victims received fair market value from the sale of the properties to the diocese's new corporation. Did the diocese have a duty to turn over every cent from donations to the victims and attempt to sell the church buildings to other buyers? What responsibility did the church have to protect parishes completely disconnected from the former priest's actions so that parishioners have a place in which to worship every Sunday? Should the diocese now walk away from the remaining debt, or should it ante up when it can? Is Rome responsible for stepping in and meeting obligations that are beyond the capabilities of local collection plates? So long as the issue drags on, so too does the suffering of the victims and innocent parishioners. How do you best deal with these shades of grey? Contact: nmusseau@gulfnews.ca
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.