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	Priest's Sexual Assault Victims Look to Prevention Daily Press November 11, 2008 http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1299019 As victims of a pedophile priest they suffered in isolation. Together, their courage to speak out is shining a light in the shadows of childhood sexual abuse by clergy. "We wanted justice for the broken little girls who lived inside of us and we felt a fierce protectiveness for the children of today," said Kelly-Anne Appleton, one of the 47 women abused as children by the late Rev. Charles Sylvestre. "We wanted to save all children from the fate we had met." When coming forward to face their abuser, the survivors had four goals: Validation, justice, an apology and prevention. Through the court system they found validation and justice; Sylvestre was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in 2006 to indecently assaulting 47 women over four decades. He died in early 2007. Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the Diocese of London apologized for the failings of the church and its role in the victimization shortly after the priest pleaded guilty. The final goal came to fruition Friday with the release of the long-awaited manual "From Isolation to Action, Child Sexual Abuse by Clergy: Managing a Major Case R. vs Sylvestre." "This manual is our story, our struggles and our triumphs," Appleton said. "It is the chronicle of the journey of 47 women from scared little girls to strong women ... from powerless to powerful." Chatham-Kent Crown attorney Paul Bailey, who was instrumental in forming the From Isolation to Action committee, said the booklet contains information on the successes and mistakes made throughout the handling of the case. "It is our hope that it will serve as a best practices template," he said, noting copies will be sent to all the Crown attorneys in Ontario and bishops across the country. Bailey said the Sylvestre case accomplished a lot, especially in raising pubic awareness about the issue of sexual abuse by clergy. "Sexual predation of children in the church is a deep, dark secret ... we wanted to bring it into the light of day," he said. Bailey said the collaboration between the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Roman Catholic Diocese of London, survivors, the local victim/witness assistance program, Chatham Ursuline Sisters and sexual assault crisis centres in Chatham and Sarnia is unprecedented. "This partnership was novel and unique and not without risk," he said. "We were partnering with the very institution that was party to the abuse of children." Fabbro didn't attend Friday's news conference, but sent a letter to be read publicly. "It is my sincere hope that this manual, so carefully and diligently crafted, will serve as an important resource and guide to other communities and dioceses facing the heartbreaking reality of child sexual abuse at the hands of clergy," he wrote. Fabbro thanked the 47 women who came forward to report the abuse "and whose experience seeking justice formed the heart of this project."
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