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	Lawyers for Alleged Church Sex-Abuse Victims Hope for Deal By Tobi Cohen Ottawa Sun June 5, 2006 http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/06/05/1614846-sun.html A London, Ont., law firm is extending an "olive branch" to the Catholic Diocese of Pembroke in the hopes it will agree to settle out of court with victims of an alleged pedophilic priest. Ledroit Beckett Litigation Lawyers are expected to officially ask the diocese today if it will agree to an "alternative dispute resolution system" with the alleged victims of Msgr. Bernard Prince. The 71-year-old priest is facing 14 counts of gross indecency, 13 counts of indecent assault, three counts of buggery and one count of sexual assault. The charges involve 12 young males and date back to the 1960s and 1970s when Prince worked as a priest in Pembroke. The well-respected priest was later posted to Arnprior and Ottawa before departing for the Vatican in 1991. He returned to Canada from Rome in February, about five months after a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Rob Talach, a lawyer for Ledroit Beckett, said the request is meant to speed up the legal process and reduce the emotional strain it can have on victims of alleged abuse. "The civil litigation process is very long-winded and very difficult for victims," he said, noting the last church litigation case he handled took six years to come to court. "It's well-recognized ... that if it can be avoided, it should be avoided." If the diocese agrees to an out-of-court resolution, Talach expects the process could take up to a year. The diocese could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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