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	Perv Priest Gets 3 Years Urges His Numerous Victims to Forgive Him By Jane Sims Toronto Sun [Canada] October 7, 2006 http://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/10/07/1971199-sun.html Chatham -- In the end, disgraced Rev. Charles Sylvestre wanted to preach a lesson in forgiveness. Just before the longtime Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to three years in prison -- his estimated life expectancy -- he stood in the courtroom, his hands shaking, and spoke to the judege and his numerous victims of childhood sexual abuse. "My first words are words of sorrow for causing pain in your lives," Sylvestre, 84, said to the women. "I apologize and ask for forgiveness." But then, after admitting his shock at their anger, he said he was "praying for you everyday." He told the victims forgiveness leads to the "experience of love." Sylvestre had a paperback with him called Forgiveness: God's Gift of Love. He told Chatham Crown attorney P aul Bailey as he was led from court during a break it was "a nice little book" and available at Catholic bookstores. FONDLED, GROPED It was a surreal response from a man who over three decades fondled, groped and destroyed the innocence of little girls across southwestern Ontario. When the handcuff s were placed on his wrists in front of the victims before he was led away, some applauded. Others sobbed with relief. Yesterday, in his decision to accept the joint sentencing submission of the Crown and the defence, O ntario Court Justice Bruce Thomas noted Sylvestre ' s "very special position of trust" and said a fi t sentence if Sylvestre was younger would be a much longer prison term. "His perverted cravings, it appeared, were almost insatiable," he said. But because of his age and his various illnesses from diabetes to mild dementia, Th omas agreed to the three year term. He pointed to a report from a renowned actuary that estimated Sylvestre's life would only last as long as his prison term.
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