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	Victim Helps Launch Book By Jane Sims London Free Press May 17, 2010 http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/05/17/13972131.html Lou Ann Soontiens wanted a way to tell her story. A Roman Catholic priest befriended her, raped her repeatedly and impregnated her. A year ago, she was about to start her civil trial against the Roman Catholic Diocese of London for the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Rev. Charles Sylvestre when a deal was reached. Soontiens, 54, of Chatham won what was believed to be the largest settlement in a single sexual abuse civil case in Canada. The settlement meant, despite avoiding what would have been a lengthy and painful trial, she hadn't told her story in the way she wanted. "I really didn't get to tell them what happened to me. This is my final chapter of what they did and what they didn't do." On Tuesday, she will help launch a book at the Chatham Cultural Centre about Sylvestre's crimes and specifically about her abuse. Breach of Faith, Breach of Trust was written by Jim Gilbert, a retired Chatham teacher. It's published by iUniverse, an American company. The book looks into the history of sexual abuse in the church, with chapter on Soontiens' story. Soontiens was one of 47 women who came forward with stories of abuse at the hands of Sylvestre when he served in parishes in Windsor, London, Sarnia, Chatham and Pain Court. Sylvestre, 84, was convicted almost four years ago of 47 counts of indecent assault. He died in prison in January 2007, just three months into his three-year sentence. Soontiens was one of 29 victims who attended St. Ursula's parish in Chatham. Her story horrified and saddened the community. She was living with her grandparents, and her grandfather put his trust in Sylvestre after the priest asked if young Lou Ann could help him around the church. Soontiens became a favourite target of Sylvestre's sexual cravings. For five years, she was raped once a week. It ended with a botched abortion and Soontiens leaving home for good. She has been married three times and has two grown sons. Soontiens said as difficult as it was to come forward with her story, she doesn't regret it. "When you're abused, you're embarrassed to come out, you're ashamed. I'm hoping that if there are victims out there that didn't have the courage to come out, I think if they read my chapter it will help them come out . . . It's all around me."
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