"Get the piano off your back"

Bernadette Howell, Spiritual Health Practitioner - November 6, 2024


Breaking silence. Confronting clergy abuse. 


This blog post reflects on the impact of the documentary Prey, which tells the story of clergy sexual abuse survivor Rod MacLeod and his legal battle against the Basilian Fathers of Toronto. The author expresses gratitude for the readers of the blog and introduces the key story of Chris McLean, a survivor who, after watching Prey at the Windsor International Film Festival, decided to come forward and pursue justice for his own abuse. The documentary, first released in 2019, had a profound effect on McLean, inspiring him to take legal action.


The blog highlights the long and arduous process of seeking justice in cases of clergy abuse, emphasizing how victims often face years of legal battles, emotional strain, and invasive scrutiny, including psychological assessments. It also delves into the complexities of the legal system, particularly the differences between compensatory and punitive damages, and how the Catholic Church, despite acknowledging the abuse, typically disputes the financial consequences. The post critiques the Church's handling of abuse cases, including its tendency to offer inadequate settlements to survivors and appeal verdicts, which delays justice further.

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Catholic Priest in Oakville charged with sexual assault

By Patricia Grell • March 25, 2026
Oakville News - March 24, 2026 Oakville, ON - Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) have laid a sexual assault charge against an Oakville clergyman after receiving a complaint last month. Police released a statement earlier today saying that authorities have charged a Catholic Priest employed in Oakville with sexual assault following a month-long investigation. In early February 2026, HRPS say they began an investigation into "an allegation of sexual assault committed against an adult female while the victim was volunteering at an Oakville church." As a result of the investigation, Reverend Ranjan D’Sa (53) of Oakville has been charged with one count of Sexual Assault.

Cardinal Ouellet Faces Defamation Lawsuit in Canadian Court Over Abuse Allegations

By Patricia Grell • March 20, 2026
Zenit - March 18, 2026 Montreal, QC - In Montreal this March, Cardinal Marc Ouellet appeared in Quebec Superior Court to defend himself against allegations of sexual misconduct, as part of a broader defamation lawsuit he filed against his accuser. The case has reopened attention to a series of claims first publicized in a 2022 class-action lawsuit involving 101 individuals alleging abuse by clergy or staff within the Archdiocese of Quebec. The case is unfolding at a moment of heightened attention to accountability within the Catholic Church in Canada, highlighting the complexities of balancing legal rights, canonical procedures, and the reputational and moral stakes for high-ranking clerics. Observers note that the trial’s outcome could have ramifications for how allegations of misconduct are addressed both in civil courts and within Church structures, particularly in cases involving defamation claims intertwined with historical abuse allegations.
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