Pembroke Priest Charged in Alleged 1985 Sex Assault

By Meghan Hurley
Ottawa Citizen
July 30, 2013

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Pembroke+priest+charged+alleged+1985+assault/8725603/story.html

OTTAWA — A 72-year-old Pembroke priest and former police chaplain faces charges in an historical sexual assault.

The charges were laid after the victim made a complaint to police about an alleged sexual assault in 1985. Police arrested Father Howard Chabot on Monday and charged him with sexual assault and gross indecency.

Chabot was released from custody on a promise to appear in court on Sept. 3.

Chabot was a priest at Holy Name Parish in Pembroke when the alleged incident occurred, but he had also worked as a chaplain with the police force for 20 years.

David Hawkins, the Pembroke police chief before the force disbanded earlier this month, said Wednesday he hadn’t heard about the charges.

Hawkins described Chabot as an “honourable man” who retired as the force’s chaplain several years ago because of health problems.

Hawkins said Chabot’s main responsibility was to help police notify families in Pembroke when a relative died.

“He was certainly always a gentleman and very supportive of the police,” Hawkins said. “I speak very highly of him.”

Bruce Pappin, a spokesman for the Pembroke diocese, said Chabot was ordained as a priest in 1968. Chabot retired in 2005 from Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Pembroke because of heart problems.

The diocese said they will continue to co-operate with police and will help the victim through the healing process.

“The Diocese of Pembroke prays that the truth concerning this matter may be brought to light and extends support to any parties concerned in this case,” Bishop Michael Mulhall said in a statement.

Chabot’s arrest marked the fourth time in recent history a priest in the Pembroke diocese faces historical sexual assault charges.

Monsignor Robert Borne was handed a nine-month conditional sentence last year for indecently assaulting a local teen more than 30 years ago.

Daniel Miller, a retired Ottawa Valley priest, was charged with three counts each of gross indecency and indecent assault for offences that occurred between 1970 and 1980.

The alleged victims in that case were pre-teen boys and one man.

In January 2008, Msgr. Bernard Prince was found guilty of molesting 13 young boys between 1964 and 1984. The prominent priest had previously been given a Vatican post.

Even before the latest sexual assault charges, the Pembroke diocese had implemented a protocol for sexual abuse cases involving minors.

Listed under popular items on the Pembroke diocese website, the protocol calls the sexual assault of a child a “terrible crime” and “scandalous.”

A priest appointed by the diocese was put in charge of taking complaints of sexual assault involving children. The priest is obligated to report allegations that a child was sexually assaulted to the police. When an adult brings forward allegations of sexual assault, the priest will tell the victim to contact the police. If the adult doesn’t want a criminal investigation, the diocese will undertake their own by interviewing the victim and taking a formal statement.

The diocese will also provide counselling or spiritual guidance to the victims.

“The Diocesan Committee will attempt to immediately assess the situation and implement measures to minimize the trauma that inevitably flows from such a regrettable and scandalous incident,” the protocol states.

Contact: mhurley@ottawacitizen.com