Where there's smoke, there's fire

Catholic Register – November 30, 2023 (Opinion by Lea Karen Kivi)


There he stood. Alone. Vulnerable. Attired as a Prince of the Church wielding spiritual power, he was unprotected from the risks of downtown Toronto street life. A few days before I came upon him, I sat in a support group held by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). One man abused as a child was exploding with rage as he shared how the bishop involved with his case refused to meet with him. I was afraid to be in that room.

So, that foggy early winter night a decade ago, when I spotted Cardinal Thomas Collins illuminated by a streetlight on Queen’s Park Crescent, I felt afraid for him. What if that wounded survivor happened to be the one to cross his path that evening? Instead, it was I. Until his driver arrived to escort him away safely, I stood with the Cardinal, exchanging pleasantries to mask my concern.



Read the Full Article

Class-Action Lawsuit Over Abuse At Metro Vancouver Schools Settled For $30M

By Patricia Grell • August 9, 2026
CTV News - August 1, 2026 Vancouver, BC - The B.C. Supreme Court has approved a $30-million settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving historical claims of physical, psychological and sexual abuse at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate. More than 200 former students joined the lawsuit, which alleged that some abusive Christian Brothers had been transferred from the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland. The alleged abuse occurred between the 1970s and 2013 and caused lasting emotional, relationship, and substance-abuse problems for many victims. Although most class members supported the settlement, some criticized the defendants for a lack of accountability, while several chose to pursue individual lawsuits instead.

Settlement Reached In Priest Sex-Abuse Lawsuit

By Patricia Grell • August 9, 2026
Bishop Accountability - July 7, 2026 Winnipeg, AL - A Winnipeg man in his mid-40s has settled a lawsuit alleging that he was sexually abused by two Catholic priests when he was 10 or 11 years old in 1990–91. The alleged abuse occurred while he was a student at St. Jean Baptiste Elementary School and a member of the local Catholic church. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, involved the Archdiocese of St. Boniface, the Red River Valley School Division and the estate of priest Léo Couture. The other priest, René Touchette, had previously been convicted of sexual offences in the 1990s and died in 2012. The settlement details have not been released, and none of the defendants admitted liability. The case was scheduled for trial in November 2027, but those proceedings will now be cancelled because of the settlement.
More Posts