Vancouver archdioceses says ‘credible abuse’ perpetrators can’t be named, but privacy lawyers disagree

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller has released 31 recommendations of a local committee that reviewed church records of abuse by priests in the Vancouver Archdiocese.

The suggestions include the Archdiocese setting up an Intake Office to handle complaints, staffed by people specifically trained to deal with the complexities of clergy sexual abuse, and a review board to determine if an allegation is credible.

One of the recommendations involves naming priests who are “credibly accused” of assault, but not proven in a court of law. That was one of the recommendations that the Archdiocese pushed back on - they say: “We are working with experts from across the country to find legal means to share information regarding clergy who have not been convicted, but of whose guilt we are morally certain. Due to Canadian legislation on privacy, we are more restricted than American dioceses, which have been able to publish the names of what have been called “credibly accused” priests.”

I asked Archdiocese of Vancouver spokesperson, Melissa Godbout (GOD-boo), what happens to priests who receive these credible accusations.

Guest: Robert Talach

Partner at Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers in London, Ontario

He leads the Sexual Abuse Department

Victims’ advocate

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller has released 31 recommendations of a local committee that reviewed church records of abuse by priests in the Vancouver Archdiocese.

The suggestions include the Archdiocese setting up an Intake Office to handle complaints, staffed by people specifically trained to deal with the complexities of clergy sexual abuse, and a review board to determine if an allegation is credible.

One of the recommendations involves naming priests who are “credibly accused” of assault, but not proven in a court of law. That was one of the recommendations that the Archdiocese pushed back on - they say: “We are working with experts from across the country to find legal means to share information regarding clergy who have not been convicted, but of whose guilt we are morally certain. Due to Canadian legislation on privacy, we are more restricted than American dioceses, which have been able to publish the names of what have been called “credibly accused” priests.”

I asked Archdiocese of Vancouver spokesperson, Melissa Godbout (GOD-boo), what happens to priests who receive these credible accusations.

Guest: Robert Talach

Partner at Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers in London, Ontario

He leads the Sexual Abuse Department

Victims’ advocate