'It's shaped my whole life': Former students of Sask. Christian school allege teacher sexually abused them
CBC
WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
Three women who attended a private Saskatoon Christian school and attached church allege they were sexually abused by a Sunday school teacher in the '90s when they were four to seven years old.
They say the alleged abuser, Nathan Schultz, stole their innocence and forced them to live with a deep sense of guilt and shame for many years. They say they're also angry at school and church officials who appear to have known about the allegations.
Schultz is one of nearly two dozen named defendants in a $25-million proposed class action lawsuit, which claims sexual abuse was perpetrated — and covered up — by multiple officials at Christian Centre Academy and Saskatoon Christian Centre church, now known as Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church.
The women who CBC News interviewed have all gone to police with their allegations and are part of the proposed class action lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed following a CBC News investigation into allegations against school and church officials by more than 30 students of widespread physical abuse, solitary confinement, exorcisms and forced political campaigning.
None of the allegations have been proven in court. A statement of defence has yet to be filed.
Schultz's parents were "elders" with the church and are also named in the lawsuit. His father was the director of the school when the abuse allegedly occurred.
Church and school officials were informed of the alleged abuse at least three times, according to victims, parents and an email sent from an elder and obtained by CBC News.
The women who are coming forward also say Schultz's parents ought to have known about sexual abuse allegations, given that they were top officials.
Caitlin Erickson, who attended the school and church for 13 years until 2005 and is one of the lawsuit plaintiffs, says Schultz sexually abused her when she was six or seven years old and he was 16 or 17.
During children's church on Sundays, Schultz was "always the guy that would volunteer to take the girls to the bathroom," Erickson recalls.
There was an equipment room along the hallway that went to the bathroom, Erickson says.
She says Schultz took her to that room three times.
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