When one thinks of predatory examples of ordained clergy in New Zealand, Graham Capill tends to pop up with monotonous regularity. However, not all clergy sexual predation occurs against children. In one current Quebec case, a Catholic priest is alleged to have raped a seventeen year old maid in a parish church, over forty years ago.

The item was reported in the current Globe and Mail.  France Bedard, now 59, said that she was dissatisfied that Quebec’s Catholic hierarchy had only forbidden her  attacker from exercising his  ’pastoral responsibilities,’ and she is now suing the institution:

“Rape is a criminal act. And those who hide criminal acts and increase the sufferings of the victims are also criminals,”

Sadly, Ms Bedard cannot exact justice from the rapist,  Father Armand Therrien, as he died two months before he was scheduled to go to trial, and Ms. Bedard has lived with the trauma of her violation for most of her adult life. The predator abused his power over her to initiate a relationship, leading to pregnancy, and the birth of a child, which she was forced to adopt out, only adding to her trauma and pain.

In 2005, France contacted the Archdiocese. After she had spent two months discussing the matter, the church seemed ill-inclined to act. Resultantly,  she took the matter to the Police.

In May 2006, Therrien was charged in May of 2006 with rape and gross indecency. DNA profiling also proved that Therrien was the father of Ms. Bédard’s son. She concluded:

“By showing themselves unworthy of their moral pretensions, they only add to the suffering of the victims of the sexual crimes committed by their clergy. They preach compassion, love and generosity, but act with cold, calculated indifference.”

Recommended:

Toronto Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com