Father Erik Oland led the Canadian effort to publicly disclose the names of accused sexual abusers in the Jesuits of Canada.
MONTREAL, Que.-The Jesuits of Canada, a religious order of the Catholic Church, has released a list of 27 priests and brothers it says were accused of sexually abusing minors over the past six decades and that information verifies that abuse was likely.
"Over the past three or more decades, revelations of grievous abuse by clergy dating back many generations have come to light, and the Church has been slow to respond. Moving through phases of outright denial, victim blaming, and moral incompetence, the Church has begun to respond justly," Father Erik Oland, director of the Jesuits of Canada Province, said in an open letter that accompanies a press release and list on the organization's website.
The organization used a third-party risk-assessment company to evaluate and examine records from 1950 to the present. They came to their conclusions by evaluating accusations by credible witnesses, parishoners, civil authorities, and plausible hearsay evidence to determine that "more likely than not an offence occurred."
Of the priests listed, 24 of the 27 have passed away. The list includes some priests who worked in residential schools and Indigenous communities, including George Epoch, who likely sexually abused more than 100 children. The materials also reveal that many of the priests were frequently moved to different locations across the country.
Patrick Wall, an American lawyer and clergy abuse expert, told CBC News that there is value in having such a list even if the perpetrators have passed away. He said seeing a name on the list may validate not only known survivors, but also those who didn't report their abuse.
"Some of the survivors, I'm sure find great solace that their perpetrator's name is on there, and they're not the only one," he told CBC News.
"All of this has undermined the credibility of an institution that, according to its own raison d'être, should have been a witness to all that contributes to the promotion of the moral dignity of each human person, rather than their humiliation," Oland noted. "The trauma experienced by victims of abuse affects the whole person, including their ability to feel safe, trust others, and find meaning in life. As we have met with survivors, listened to their stories, and read the reports of their experiences, we have felt shame and become convinced that the only path forward is one of truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation."
The organization encourages anyone who has experienced abuse by a Jesuit to notify the appropriate law enforcement or child-protection agency where the incident occured. They can also contact William Blakeney, the Province's delegate, at wblakeney@jesuits.org, or in writing to the Jesuits of Canada, 25 Jarry St W, Montreal, QC H2P 1S6.
The Province of the Jesuits of Canada covers all 10 Canadian provinces as well as the three Canadian territories and the country of Haiti.
