Talach: Catholic Church Deserves Same Scrutiny as Hockey Canada
London Free Press – Aug. 19, 2022
In communities all across Canada there are two buildings you are sure to find, a hockey arena and a Catholic church. Recently, both those institutions were in the news for their handling of sexual abuse. Hockey Canada was before a Parliamentary subcommittee for its handling of allegations arising from events on the night of their 2018 World Junior Team gala in London, and the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope himself, was criss-crossing Canada on an apology tour for the legacy of residential schools.
The Canadian Press - September 1, 2026 Montreal, QC - Former Montreal priest Brian Boucher, who was convicted in 2019 of sexually abusing two boys and sentenced to eight years in prison, is now facing new charges related to possessing and accessing child sexual abuse material. The alleged offences occurred between April 7 and April 9, and his case has been postponed until September 8. Boucher was granted statutory release in 2024 under strict conditions, including avoiding children and his victims. Still, his release conditions were tightened in 2025 after he was reportedly seen near areas where one victim and his family were likely to be. He was formally removed from the priesthood in 2020 following his conviction and an independent inquiry that criticized the Montreal Catholic diocese for its handling of earlier complaints against him.
Bishop Accountability + CBC News (Halifax) - August 27, 2026 Halifax, NS - Dozens of victims of historical sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Nova Scotia are expected to receive compensation in mid-September, nearly four years after a $10-million settlement was approved. More than 65 victims have been approved for payments ranging from about $21,800 to $303,000, but delays occurred because of the large number of claims and lengthy assessments. Some survivors criticized the process and lack of communication, while lawyers and the archdiocese say the settlement process was fair.