10 out of 27 Jesuits 'credibly accused' of abusing minors worked at a residential school or a First Nation
CBC
WARNING: This story contains distressing details
Over a third of the Jesuits who are "credibly accused" of sexually abusing minors worked in First Nations or at the Spanish Indian Residential School in Spanish, Ont.
The religious order released a list of names, along with the places they were assigned to work, on Monday as part of an attempt to be more transparent and accountable.
Among the 27 priests and brothers named, 10 worked at the residential school in Spanish and/or in First Nations communities.
"I look at the list. I'm glad that it's an opening but it says credible allegations," said Rheena Diabo, chair of the finance administration committee at the St. Francis Xavier Mission in Kahnawà:ke, a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) community south of Montreal.
Father Henri Lalonde, one of the priests named, was assigned to the mission between 1967 and 1969. He was also involved with the mission's choir starting in the 1930s up until at least 1972. He died in 1974.
"There are people who I'm sure were abused by this priest that aren't part of those credible allegations. There's a lot more to it," said Diabo.
The Jesuits say Lalonde had multiple allegations against him but did not say how many were tied to his time in Kahnawà:ke.
The list is the result of an audit of the religious order by King International Advisory Group, a third-party risk assessment organization, looking into allegations of abuse by members dating back to the 1950s.
CBC News has not independently verified the allegations against the priests.
Diabo, who was aware of the audit happening, said the release of it online — without notice to affected communities — felt insensitive.
"I at least expected a heads-up so we could prepare our congregation and the community," she said.
"Considering they've worked with truth and reconciliation and they know how people can get triggered … People need to feel that they can come forward with their complaints or their allegations and not feel like they're going to be attacked."
Michael Murray, Norman Hinton, and John Neville O'Neill were assigned to work in several First Nations in Ontario, including Wikwemkoong Unceded Territory, M'Chigeeng First Nation, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, as well as the Anishinabe Spiritual Centre in Espanola, Ont.
