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	Victims Read Impact Statements to Each Other By Jane Sims London Free Press [Canada] September 23, 2006 http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/09/23/1883761-sun.html Chatham -- Left without an abuser or a judge to hear them, Rev. Charles Sylvestre's victims turned to each other. Yesterday, when their opportunities to give victim impact statements fizzled after the retired priest's mental fitness became an issue, they used the courtroom as a meeting place to speak out. One by one they read their victim impact statements in a highly unusual session arranged by Crown Attorney Paul Bailey. Instead of facing the judge's bench, the women turned to the public seats, where they were encouraged and applauded. "I wouldn't be in this dark hole or dark place without someone's decision to abuse me," said Irene Deschenes, whose name is not protected by the court-ordered publication ban. "I felt I had a monster inside of me capable of provoking a priest of God to abandon his vows and commit this horrible violation against a child," one woman said. "I need to feel validated, to know it was not something that shy little girl made up in her head, that it was real and it was unfortunate and it happened to other children," said another victim. "I need to know it won't happen again." There were many sobs and tears. Victim services workers encouraged the women to speak. Some told of failed marriages and addictions. Some told of abusive partners, illnesses and constant feelings of self-loathing and distrust. Others stressed their loss of faith and their anger at the Roman Catholic Church. At the back of the room sat three priests from the Diocese of London -- Rev. John Sharp, the vicar general in charge of clergy abuse issues, along with Rev. Robert Champagne and Rev. Dan Vere -- who were dispatched to Chatham to hear what the women had to say. Two mothers of victims spoke of their sense of betrayal and anger that a man in whom they had put their trust was silently victimizing their daughters to satisfy his sexual urges. Two other women who are not part of the criminal case stepped forward to tell of their abuse and sadness. One woman who asked that her name be removed from the publication ban, Lynn Petcoff, told of the pain of losing two children -- one stillborn and the other identified with the same heart defect in her womb. "I felt this was God's way of punishing me for the bad things Father Sylvestre did to me." Every woman's statement was introduced by Bailey, who held up photographs of each woman as they were when they were little girls and the priest's victims. London psychiatrist Louise Sas had advised Bailey there were victims who would be "devastated" upon hearing the news of the mental fitness issue. At a morning meeting, the victims told him "they thought they would never have a voice," he said. He set up the afternoon session to give them a chance to speak. Not everyone spoke, but everyone in the room listened. Bailey said in anticipation of the trauma, on Thursday he asked that more crisis workers be available for the women. A paramedic team was also there -- and it was needed. Lou-Ann Soontiens of Chatham, whose story of terrible abuse and pregnancy was told at the last court date, fainted in the seats. She was conscious when taken away on a stretcher. Others talked of renewed faith and forgiveness and a will to move on. "I'm going to make it," one woman said. "And if I don't, he wins for sure." --- VICTIM STATEMENTS - "I truly believe that if priests were allowed to marry, they wouldn't be as inclined to prey on children to satisfy their sexual needs." - "I may grieve for that little girl who is gone forever, never knowing what she could have been." - "I believe he is a sick man who has a disease. I'm sure God will take care of Charles Sylvestre for what he has done." - "This case has brought back a lot of unpleasant memories and anger." - "Today, I choose to forgive Charles Sylvestre so I can go beyond the black cloud of anger and hate." - "My one regret is that I did not say more to protect others from going through what they have." - "Thank you Father Charlie for making me a stronger person because in the end your crimes against me won't win. I will."
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