PETERBOROUGH (CANADA)
Peterborough Examiner [Peterborough, ON, Canada]
June 4, 2024
By Todd Vandonk
The Catholic school board and Diocese of Peterborough say Rev. Paul Massel wasn’t authorized to write a letter of support for former Douro teacher Thomas Christopher Cavanagh.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains descriptions of sex crimes against children that may be upsetting or disturbing for some readers. If you or anyone you know is in need of assistance, the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre runs a 24-hour crisis support line at 1-705-741-0260.
The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough are in damage control after Rev. Paul Massel provided the court with a letter of support for convicted child predator Thomas Christopher Cavanagh.
Earlier this year, Cavanagh’s lawyer, Sohana Chowdhury, filed and read parts of several letters of support for Justice Timothy Breen to consider when sentencing the 48-year-old, including a letter from Massel. Sentencing has not taken place.
The one-page message was printed using the school board’s letterhead and signed with Massel’s title as the board’s chaplain and faith animator.
During a brief court appearance in May, the prosecution filed a letter from the board’s lawyers requesting the letter be destroyed or returned and Breen not rely upon it because it was unauthorized by the school board.
“The board ask that the Crown make it clear to the court that the letter should not, under any circumstances, be read as a direct or indirect statement of support by the board for Mr. Cavanagh in any manner whatsoever,” the board’s lawyers wrote in a letter to the court dated May 17, 2024.
Massel’s letter outlines his pastoral support to Cavanagh, his wife and children. Massel mentions the challenging days and months for Cavanagh and for the entire community of people who know him and have worked with him in the school system.
“I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for Chris and how he has supported his family, sought the help of qualified counsellors and worked hard to understand how he and the family could heal, grow and rise out of such difficult circumstances,” Massel wrote in the letter dated Aug. 27, 2023.
“I have known Chris to be honest and vulnerable with me about the spiritual aspects of his situation.”
According to the board, Massel serves as the board chaplain as part of a partnership agreement between the school board and the Diocese of Peterborough and, as such, he offers pastoral counselling for board staff in difficult situations.
“While we understand the role of a priest includes proving pastoral support to any family in need, PVNC Catholic District School Board did not authorize Fr. Paul in his role as board chaplain to make any statement to the court with respect to the Cavanagh case,” the board wrote to Metroland on Monday.
Further, the board stated it vehemently denounces the actions to which Cavanagh pleaded guilty to.
“Those actions do not relate directly to our students or staff; however, Mr. Cavanagh’s conduct has had a significant and ongoing impact on the St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School community in Douro,” the board noted, adding his actions represent a grave breach of trust to the entire school community.
“The board is hopeful that the conclusion of Mr. Cavanagh’s criminal case will offer some closure to the St. Joseph CES community as it continues to recover and heal from this situation.”
A total of 100 images and six videos were sent or received through Twitter. A further search of Cavanagh’s laptop and a cellphone surfaced almost 1,500 images and nine videos of child pornography. Although none of the victims in this case were students at the school, pictures and videos of Cavanagh’s genitalia appeared to have been taken inside a classroom, court heard.
In her submissions, assistant Crown attorney Lisa Wannamaker said the times of some of his chat history suggest some of Cavanagh’s illegal activities happened during school hours.
Further, Wannamaker told the court that Cavanagh inappropriately talked about his students in online chats. He admitted in a chat that he looked down the shirts and up the skirts of students, but he wished they wore more revealing clothing. He also told one Twitter user he knew which students to exploit in exchange for better grades.
Wannamaker said Cavanagh told a user those are the “benefits of being a teacher.”
Lastly, the court heard that Cavanagh told a user he fantasied about students at his school.
In response to Massel’s letter, the Diocese of Peterborough told Metroland he didn’t consult with or seek approval of the bishop.
“It is customary for clergy to provide pastoral support and guidance to people facing a range of life circumstances. However, pastoral ministry is not usually documented and provided for the use of the courts,” the diocese told Metroland.
“The crimes which Mr. Cavanagh has pleaded guilty to are serious and disturbing, and the diocese does not condone his criminal actions or impact they have had upon victims. We pray for all who have been impacted by this difficult situation.”