BishopAccountability.org
	Sex Abuse Compensation Report Goes to Diocese The Metro November 1, 2010 http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/canada/article/679045--sex-abuse-compensation-report-goes-to-diocese A former Supreme Court justice has given a Catholic diocese in northern New Brunswick his recommendations of compensation for victims of sexual abuse by a former priest. Michel Bastarache met Monday with officials of the Diocese of Bathurst to provide his confidential report. He was hired by the diocese earlier this year after Rev. Levi Noel, a former priest, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault against 18 boys between 1958 and 1980. Noel was sentenced to eight years in prison. Bishop Valery Vienneau has repeatedly apologized to the victims. "We profoundly regret that Father Levi Noel has abused the trust and innocence of young boys," Vienneau wrote in an online memo posted in January. "On behalf of the Catholic Church of Bathurst, I want to extend to the victims our most sincere apologies." Lawyer Robert Talach says at least 10 of his clients have opted out of the conciliation process and are considering legal action. Talach, who is based in London, Ont., said they've lost confidence in the church. "When you're talking about victims of sexual abuse where there's an authority figure and an institutional element ... there just isn't that level of trust," Talach said Monday. He said many of the victims say that along with compensation, they want assurances that no other children will be abused in the future. "We have to put the spotlight of scrutiny on what happened here," Talach said.
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