'To Avoid Scandal': Unearthed Letters Show How N.L. Bishop Handled Allegations in Baie Verte
CBC News (Newfoundland) - August 26, 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador - Newly uncovered letters suggest that in 1970, a Newfoundland bishop knew Father Leonard Joseph Kelly had sexually inappropriate relationships with boys but sent him for treatment instead of reporting him to authorities. Kelly later returned to ministry and was convicted of sexually assaulting two boys in the 1980s. His records from the Southdown Institute are now being sought by an insurance company to determine what the church knew about his behaviour and whether it should cover related abuse claims.
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.