James Faluszczak was wearing a dark hoodie with the words 'defend the defenseless' on it.

Perhaps spandex would have been more suitable.

"James is a superhero without a cape," said William O'Sullivan, a man whose once-lonely weekly vigils outside Welland's St. Kevin Catholic church where he was sexually assaulted as a boy over a period of several years has grown to become known as the 'Sully Movement.'

Dozens of people were there with him Sunday, holding signs demanding action by the Catholic church on the blight of sexual abuse by priests such as Donald Grecco, a convicted sex offender who targeted O'Sullivan.

Faluszczak, who said he was sexually assaulted numerous times as a teen in Pennsylvania, and who went on to become a priest before becoming a high-profile whistleblower on sexual abuse within the Catholic church, said O'Sullivan's calls for comprehensive reform within the church are important across Canada.

"Let people and good Catholics know they have the right to answers," the Buffalo resident said. "To me it's a basic human right."

Faluszczak quit the clergy in 2014 after trying to alert bishops to ongoing abuse by priests and getting nowhere.

"I saw a lot of my colleagues and friends involved in illegal and illicit actions," he said.

Faluszczak, who has been featured on numerous American news outlets and who testified in front of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigating sexual abuse and coverups, said victims stepping forward have helped to bring down some bishops and shed light on the issue south of the border. But he said the abuse and coverups remain largely in the shadows in Canada.

"How is it that this society that's so revered in my country is so backwards on accountability for sexual abuse?" he asked.

"I think the bishops here and across the country need to know they're on notice because of their failure to give a full public accounting."

O'Sullivan, now in the 66th week of his weekly vigils said he was alone for the first 53 weeks.

"Then the (Sully) movement showed up," he said. "Now it's 130, 140 strong. It means the world to me that James is here."

In a letter to parishioners of St. Kevin's parish last fall, Bishop Gerard Bergie of the St. Catharines Diocese said he'd spoken to O'Sullivan twice, once in person and once on the phone. He noted O'Sullivan has initiated a civil suit against the diocese and other defendants.

Bergie said in his letter that he asked for forgiveness for the "sinful actions" of some priests and asked parishioners to pray for healing of all victims of sexual abuse.

O'Sullivan said he wants a national commission or investigation into sex abuse and coverups in the church across Canada and a proper apology by the church.

"I'm not giving up; no way," he said. "Sexual abuse doesn't discriminate: it's gone through every single diocese in Canada."