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	Diocese under Fire by Victims Women Sexually Abused by Late Father Sylvestre Say Church Is Moving Slowly to Settle Lawsuits By Ellwood Shreve Sarnia Observer September 13, 2008 http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1198639 Several victims of the late Father Charles Sylvestre are preparing to raise their voices in protest against the Diocese of London. Lou-Ann Soontiens, one of 47 women from southwestern Ontario, including some from Sarnia, that the Roman Catholic priest abused over a span of three decades, said a news conference is planned for Oct. 6 to raise concerns about how long it is taking the diocese to settle outstanding lawsuits. The date also marks the second anniversary of Sylvestre being sentenced to serve time in prison after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting the women when they were young girls. He died four months later in a prison hospital due to health reasons at age 84. "All the women who are coming are the ones who haven't settled," Soontiens said. "We're fighting them tooth and nail to get what we want." She said Bishop Ronald Fabbro promised victims they would have a speedy resolution. Mark Adkinson, spokesman for the Diocese of London, said the diocese has been moving forward as quickly as it can to try to reach a settlement with victims "in a fair and reasonable matter." He noted the process hit a snag. "We had a number of meetings scheduled in August and September, but they had to be postponed quite unexpectedly, because the lead counsel for the diocese . . . was appointed a judge," Adkinson said. He said the meetings have been cancelled until a new lead legal counsel comes on board. "With something as sensitive as this, you want to give people some time to examine the files and get to know what the background is, just so that they aren't . . . put into an awkward situation," Adkinson said. He noted the diocese has a meeting planned soon with its new representation "and hopefully be able to get these meetings
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