Lahey Responsible for Child Abuse Settlement
By Charles Lewis and Adrian Humphreys
National Post
September 30, 2009
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2052038
A prominent Roman Catholic bishop praised for his compassion and humanity in dealing with victims of sexual abuse in Nova Scotia now faces charges related to child pornography.
In August, Bishop Raymond Lahey, head of the Diocese of Antigonish, concluded an historic $13-million settlement with parishioners who had been sexually abused. On Friday, he suddenly resigned his position, citing only the need to take time for "personal renewal."
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| Raymond Lahey, the former bishop of the diocese of Antigonish, is known as the man who oversaw a $15-million settlement with people who said they had been sexually abused by priests in the diocese |
An arrest warrant has been issued for Lahey, whose whereabouts were unknown to both police and to his colleagues and fellow clergy in Nova Scotia, on Wednesday.
"Mr. Lahey is not in custody yet," says Det. Dan Melchiorre, the lead investigator on the case and a member of the Ottawa Police High Tech Crimes Unit. "But there are some developments this morning. We anticipate we'll have an answer [on Lahey's custody] some time either later this morning or early this afternoon.
"I guess I could say the bishop had indicated on Saturday that he was resigning for personal reasons and there had been lots of speculation about what those personal reasons were," said Father Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the diocese, who said he was surprised and devastated by the news. "And I think we know now what those personal reasons are."
Bishop Lahey, 69, was returning to Canada on a flight from the United States on Sept. 15 when he was stopped at the Ottawa airport by the Canada Border Services Agency.
"During the examination a CBSA officer found images on his laptop computer that were of concern," said Constable J.P. Vincelette, spokesman for the Ottawa Police Service.
The computer and other media devices were seized and the bishop was released pending further investigation. A subsequent forensic examination and audit of the computer was conducted and information to arrest Bishop Lahey was recently tuned over to Ottawa police.
On Sept. 25, the day before he resigned, charges of possession of child pornography and importation of child pornography were filed against Bishop Lahey.
In a public letter posted on the diocese website, Bishop Lahey gave no indication of the trouble he was facing.
"I recognize that my resignation takes place at a time when the Diocese is facing a variety of demanding challenges," he wrote. "To so many of you I would want to say a personal word of farewell and thanks. However, I have already left the Diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for all of you."
The few bishops who resign before the mandatory age of 75 usually do so because of grave health matters. But because Bishop Lahey was in good health, he left a lot of people confused by his decision.
Fr. Abbass said Bishop Lahey was a deeply caring person who was extremely respectful of people. He said he cannot square the potential charges with the man he has worked with for many years.
"I would like to believe he had - despite this seeming contradiction [of these charges] - a passionate commitment to this process of reconciliation and justice with those who were sexually abused. It was not just a legal process, it was more than a strategy. He was deeply committed to this course."
In Toronto, Father Tom Rosica, head of the Catholic media company Salt & Light, called Bishop Lahey a "very kind man who encountered great challenges in his diocese. We are shocked by this news. It makes no sense. It just doesn't fit with the man we knew."
Bishop Lahey held a press conference on Aug. 7 to announce an historic settlement between the diocese and abuse victims. He was praised for not fighting the victims in court, which had been the practice of the church in the 1990s in Nova Scotia as well as in other parts of North America. He was also lauded for making a public apology on behalf of the Church.
"I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were instead entitled to the trust and protection of priests," Bishop Lahey said.
At that same news conference, Ronald Martin, the man who brought the initial charges of abuse that led to a class-action lawsuit, praised the bishop's actions. In 2002, his brother David committed suicide. In the note he left behind, he spoke about the abuse he had endured. Ronald Martin had also been abused.
"To hear the bishop say today that the diocese accepts responsibility for that and apologize that, that is huge for me and my family," Mr. Martin told The Chronicle Herald. "That's all we've wanted from the beginning."
One priest, Hugh Vincent MacDonald, was facing 27 charges involving 18 children when he died in 2004.
Mr. Martin's wife said the family would not comment now about Bishop Lahey.
Ottawa police said Bishop Lahey had not yet been arrested and were uncertain of his location last night.
Const. Vincelette said the investigation is continuing and asked anyone with information to call the Ottawa police Child Exploitation Unit.
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