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	Settlement Agreement Reached between Congregation of Holy Cross and Sexual Abuse Victims from Three Educational Institutions Province Canadienne de la Congregation de Sainte-Croix October 6, 2011 http://smr.newswire.ca/en/province-canadienne-de-la-congregation-de-sainte-croix/entente-de-reglement In December of 2010, the Congregation of Holy Cross participated in a settlement conference with representatives of students who attended College Notre-Dame between 1950 and 2001, College Saint-Cesaire between 1950 and 1991, and Ecole Notre-Dame in Pohenegamook between 1959 and 1964 and suffered sexual abuse by a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross or by a layperson while attending one of these educational institutions. This mediation, presided over by the Honourable Justice Yves Poirier, j.c.s., recently culminated in an agreement under which the Congregation has agreed to apologize and pay up to $18 million in implementation of the settlement. “I am truly pained by these transgressions and apologize, on behalf of the Congregation of Holy Cross, for all of the pain and suffering this abuse has inflicted on the victims. Damage was done, and we have taken measures to repair them. We hope that the victims will finally be able to throw off the veil of silence, heal from their wounds as best as possible and fully embrace their future,” said Jean-Pierre Aumont, CSC, Canadian provincial superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The compensations will be funded entirely by the Congregation of Holy Cross, as will the costs of the legal representation of the colleges contemplated by the class action. The Congregation chose not to invoke the prescription that applies to this type of offence. The parties have agreed to do their best to finalize the indemnification process within a reasonable timeframe. Compensation will be paid to the victims and to their parents once the claims have been processed and liquidated under the settlement. Implementation of the settlement will be the responsibility of the independent adjudicator. He or she will also, in the event of a dispute between the parties’ counsel, be responsible for determining the soundness of the claims and the amounts of indemnity to be paid based on the schedules established in the settlement. The adjudicator will be supported by an expert. A short video by Father Aumont, C.S.C., Canadian provincial superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is available at the following website: www.ste-croix.qc.ca/actualites
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