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	Men End Action against Church Globe and Mail February 19, 2009 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090219.wsettlement0219/BNStory/Front/home St. John's, Nfld — Three former residents of a boys rehabilitation facility in Newfoundland have settled their lawsuit with the Roman Catholic Church, but they are continuing their legal fight against the province and the estate of a priest. The application to discontinue the action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Falls was granted Tuesday in Newfoundland Supreme Court. The claimants, now in their 40s, say they suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of Father Ronald Bromley in the 1970s and '80s while they lived at the Whitbourne Boys' Home and visited the priest's cabin. Father Bromley, who was parish priest at Whitbourne when the alleged offences took place, died in 2004. The men agreed to drop the civil action against the diocese once a settlement was reached with the church. Lawyer Jack Lavers, who is representing the men, said the amount of the settlement is confidential and the diocese expresses no liability or admission of guilt. Mr. Lavers said the lawsuits will continue against Father Bromley's estate and the provincial government. Father Bromley was originally charged with 31 sex-related counts, including sexual assault, buggery, indecent assault and gross indecency, involving nine complainants — none of whom are involved in the current civil case. He was eventually cleared of all charges. Several charges were withdrawn, he was acquitted of others, and in May, 2004, the Court of Appeal overturned a 2002 conviction on a remaining charge of gross indecency. Mr. Lavers said his next step will be to file an application on behalf of one of the claimants for summary judgment, an abbreviated process which he hopes will help avoid a trial. He expects the application will be heard in court by next month. If successful, the other men will likely follow suit. Mr. Lavers' clients aren't the only former residents of the home with civil suits pending. At least 30 others have filed suits, with most of them still before the courts.
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