Ex-altar Boy Sues Catholic Church for Alleged Abuse

By Michael Lightstone
The Chronicle-Herald
May 2, 2014

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1205226-ex-altar-boy-sues-catholic-church-for-alleged-abuse

A former altar boy now in his 70s is suing the Roman Catholic Church, alleging he was sexually abused by a now-deceased priest.

According to a court document, Emile Joseph Blinn alleges he was abused in the 1950s by the late Father Denis Robichaud when the cleric was the parish priest in the Corberrie, Digby County, area.

Blinn was about 14 when the alleged sex attacks took place, says a notice of action recently filed with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Co-defendants are the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax and the Catholic Diocese of Yarmouth.

Starting in or around 1956, the court document says, “Father Robichaud sexually abused, assaulted and molested the plaintiff.” Blinn’s allegations have not been proved in court.

“In order to facilitate the abuses, Father Robichaud also engaged in a pattern of behaviour which was intended to make (the teenage Blinn) feel that his soul was in jeopardy, and that the plaintiff would suffer eternally in hell if he did not obey Father Robichaud’s commands,” the document says.

It says at the time of the alleged abuse, the priest “used his position of authority and trust” to make sure the boy “did not speak of their sexual activities.” As a result of the alleged attacks, Blinn has endured many emotional difficulties over the years, and suffered alcoholism and problems with sexual relations, the court document says.

“The plaintiff has only recently been able to face these effects and still to this day has not fully realized the extent of his victimization,” it says.

Blinn is seeking damages for pain and suffering ($300,000), past and future personal financial damages ($1 million), special damages ($100,000), aggravated damages ($50,000) and punitive and exemplary damages ($250,000).

The co-defendants have not filed a defence.