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	Story Cannot Be Ignored Sarnia Observer August 19, 2008 http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1162649 An important event took place on Sarnia's waterfront over the weekend. Victims of the late Charles Sylvestre, a disgraced pedophile priest, gathered at Dow People Place for an emotional ceremony. The women, who were abused by Sylvestre as children, contributed panels to a quilt that was unveiled during the event. The gathering included a song and poems specifically written about Sylvestre's victims and their experiences. And there were a lot of victims. Sylvestre pled guilty to molesting 47 girls over three decades when he served at parishes in Sarnia, Chatham, Windsor and Pain Court. Almost as important to the healing process was the fact that the women were not alone. On hand to show their support were local politicians, police officers and community members. Sarnia-Lambton MP Pat Davidson may have captured the significance of the moment best of all. Recalling the first time she met one of the survivors, Davidson said, "It wasn't a story I wanted to hear and it wasn't a story she wanted to live. But it was a story that needed to be told." Truer words were never spoken. It's precisely because the problem is so difficult to talk about that society tends to ignore it. But we bury our heads in the sand at our own peril. As Michelle Batty, the director of the Sarnia-Lambton Sexual Assault Survivors Centre pointed out, telling the stories of the victims and highlighting their path to recovery is vital. "We cannot underestimate the power of a public tribute to survivors," she said. "This quilt will help people believe and inspire more people to come forward." If that does indeed happen, the event will have been well worthwhile.
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