CANADA
Toronto Sun
BY SAM PAZZANO, TORONTO SUN
FIRST POSTED: WEDNESDAY, MAY 06, 2015
TORONTO – A disgraced Romanian Orthodox priest has admitted to sexually assaulting 10 women, exploiting his position to victimize them in church, during confessions and in other places.
Ioan Pop, 56, used his holy position to fondle, kiss and make unwanted sexual advances at women from April 1, 1999 through September 2013. The assaults occurred while victims were seeking religious services such as confessions, weddings and funerals.
Pop also tried to confine, seduce and spark an affair with a despondent woman in 1999. He vowed to curse her and her family for generations if she exposed him, court heard.
Pop pleaded guilty to seven sexual assault charges but he also admitted the facts on three other allegations. Those facts can then be weighed by the judge as an aggravating factor on sentencing, which could result in a more severe sentence.
Crown attorney Jackie Garrity read out the disturbing facts to Justice Peter Hryn.
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