Alberta Catholic Archdiocese Hit with Four Sex Assault Lawsuits

By Tony Blais
Sun News
June 24, 2014

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2014/06/20140624-153329.html

A northern Alberta Catholic archdiocese has been slapped with four separate lawsuits totalling $890,000 relating to alleged historical sexual assaults.

According to the four statements of claim, which were filed June 11, the assaults happened at or near the St. Bernard Catholic Church in Grouard, Alta., in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Two of the lawsuits allege sexual assaults by a priest identified as Father Lambert.

One male plaintiff claims Father Lambert sexually assaulted him in the basement of the St. Bernard Mission School on unknown dates between 1952 and 1961.

The alleged victim says he suffered irreparable psychological harm, recurring flashbacks, betrayal and an aversion towards church settings as a result of the alleged forced masturbation, groping and attempted sodomy.

A second male plaintiff claims Father Lambert put his hands down his pants and fondled his penis on an unknown date in 1952 at the Grouard town hall, which was owned and operated by the St. Bernard Catholic Church.

The alleged victim says he has also suffered acute psychological harm, mental distress and humiliation, embarrassment and betrayal, due to Father Lambert having violated him physically, sexually and emotionally.

The two lawsuits claim the Catholic archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan failed to ensure the safety of the plaintiffs and knew or ought to have known that sexual abuse was occurring at St. Bernard and Father Lambert was abusing his position of power.

A third lawsuit alleges sexual abuse by a priest identified as Father Guilbeault. A male plaintiff claims Father Guilbeault fondled his privates in a change room at St. Bernard Mission School in 1969 or 1970.

He also alleges Father Guilbeault forced sexual acts on him during weekend hunting and fishing trips or at the priest's home, and says the priest often gave him money, cigarettes and alcohol.

A fourth lawsuit, filed by a female plaintiff, alleges she was sexually assaulted at the priests' residence on multiple occasions between 1953 and 1959.

The woman names as defendants three priests, two nuns and two male church workers and claims the sex assaults were committed by one or more of them.

Statements of defence have not yet been filed.

Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven in court.

Grouard is 366 km northwest of Edmonton.