Sexual Abuse Victims Call on Sault Catholic Diocese to Take Action

SooToday
October 18, 2012

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=48659


NEWS RELEASE

LEDROIT BECKETT

LITIGATION LAWYERS

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Victims of sexual abuse by clergy call on the Roman Catholic Church to do more

The law firm of Ledroit Beckett Litigation Lawyers will hold a press conference on:

Date/Time: Friday, October 19, 2012, 1 p.m.

Location: Radisson Hotel - Downtown Sudbury, Conference room, 85 Ste. Anne Road

This press conference represents a demand from victims of local Catholic priests for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie to do more to support victims.

Fifteen victims who were abused by Catholic priests in the local area demand a simple trinity of actions by the Diocese, as follows:

Defrocking/ laicization of convicted sex offenders - "Terminate them";

The creation of a sexual abuse policy with victim input - "Confront it"; and

The commitment to fund victims' psychological therapy - "Help them heal".

Lawyer, Robert Talach of the law firm of Ledroit Beckett, who has represented victims of clergy sexual abuse for over a decade along with a number of area victims of clergy sexual abuse will be on hand at the conference.

"It is both disturbing and disappointing that in this day and age, a religious organization, whose mandate is supposed to be compassion and care, has failed to support victims. It is time that they get with the program." - Robert Talach, lawyer and victims advocate