By Neco Cockburn and Andrew Seymour
Windsor Star
October 1, 2009
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Police+seek+bishop+facing+porn+charges/2051575/story.html
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| A file picture of Raymond Lahey, who stunned his diocese by resigning suddenly as the bishop of Antigonish on Saturday, was charged last week by the Ottawa Police after images of child pornography were found on his laptop computer, according to news reports. |
Prominent Nova Scotia Catholic stopped at Ottawa airport over images found on laptop
Ottawa - Until last week, Raymond Lahey was the Bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Now, he is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest on child pornography charges.
Lahey, who only three months ago oversaw a historic apology and financial settlement for sexual abuses committed by priests in his diocese, was picked up at the Ottawa airport on Sept. 15 when border security agents found images on his laptop computer. Lahey was returning from a trip to Britain at the time.
The Ottawa Police Internet Child Exploitation unit laid charges of possession and importation of child pornography and the warrant was issued last Friday.
The next day, the 69-year-old bishop suddenly resigned his post, explaining only that he needed time for “personal renewal.”
Nova Scotia RCMP have been asked by the Ottawa police for assistance.
Sgt. Bridgit Leger, an RCMP spokeswoman, said the Mounties have been looking for Lahey but haven’t found him yet.
The bishop’s troubles began at the airport when Canada Border Services Agency officers checked his laptop and saw images that were of concern. They seized the laptop and other media and released Lahey without charges, pending further investigation.
Police would not describe the number or contents of the images. The Ottawa police and CBSA investigation continues.
In a letter to the “priests, deacons, religious and laity of the diocese of Antigonish,” dated Sept. 26, Lahey stated that he resigned as bishop “for personal reasons.”
“I recognize that my resignation takes place at a time when the Diocese is facing a variety of demanding challenges. While I will no longer be with you on this journey, I am confident that your faith and compassion will continue to sustain you as they have always done,” he wrote in the letter, posted on the diocese website.
“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.”
Anthony Mancini, archbishop of Halifax, wrote in a letter dated Sept. 26 and posted on the archdiocese website: “Bishop Lahey has resigned for personal reasons. We are grateful to him for his dedicated and generous service to the Diocese. Let us all hold him up in prayer.”
Lahey made national headlines in August when he announced a multimillion-dollar settlement with victims of sexual abuse by former priests of the diocese. The proposed settlement — totalling more than $13 million — brought to end a class-action lawsuit filed by Ron Martin.
“I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were entitled instead to the trust and protection of priests of the Church,” Lahey said at the time. “Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime, and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God.”
Lahey was born in St. John’s, N.L, and studied for priesthood at Saint Paul University seminary in Ottawa. He was ordained as a priest on June 13, 1963.
Lahey studied canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and took on post-doctoral studies in church history at the University of Cambridge in England.
He was an assistant professor of religious studies at Memorial University in St. John’s and worked at various pastoral positions before being named bishop of St. George’s in July 1986. Lahey was appointed bishop of Antigonish in 2003.
In a press release issued on Sept. 27, Rev. Paul Abbass, who is acting as the spokesman on Antigonish diocesan matters, wrote that “we are very mindful of the service and generosity of Bishop Lahey to this diocese and offer him our sincere gratitude and assurance of our prayers.
“This transition in spiritual leadership comes at a time of significant pastoral challenges. Our Diocese is proactively addressing pastoral planning, the amalgamation of parishes and a renewal of our approach to evangelization and ministry. These are important initiatives that speak directly to our spiritual health as a Diocese,” he wrote.
Abbass assured people that “nothing in the recent, court approved Class Action Settlement Agreement will change as a consequence of this transition in leadership.”
“Our Settlement Agreement is more than a legally binding document. It is a call to justice and reconciliation. It involves painful spiritual healing, profound understanding from all, and difficult financial sacrifices. While the resignation of our former Bishop will be a loss to our Diocese in many ways, his departure does not diminish the legal and spiritual commitments we have made,” Abbass wrote.
with files from Zev Singer
Contact: ncockburn@thecitizen.canwest.com
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