WARNING: This article contains information about allegations of sexual abuse.
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving accusations that a former Catholic priest on Vancouver Island sexually abused a 10-year-old girl during confession decades ago.
The woman, now 57 and whose identity is protected, filed a notice of civil claim in 2020 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, in B.C. Supreme Court. She alleges that Father Gerhard Hartmann, who has since died, used his position as an authority figure to take advantage of her when she was a parishioner at St. Petersa国际传媒檚 Roman Catholic Church at Nanaimo in 1976.
Details of the settlement were not available, but the plaintiff and her lawyer Robert Talach told the News Bulletin the matter was settled to everyonesa国际传媒檚 satisfaction.
Beginning in 1976, Hartmann is alleged to have, sa国际传媒渙ver at least the next year,sa国际传媒� kissed her, molested her and engaged sa国际传媒渋n other sexual activitiessa国际传媒� numerous times, her notice alleges, and the incidents occurred in the church sa国际传媒渨ithin the context of the sacrament of reconciliation, otherwise known as the confessional.sa国际传媒� Talach said the priest was transferred to Port Hardy in June 1979.
The notice also alleges that when the woman notified the diocese early in 2000, the claim states she was met with a sa国际传媒渄ismissivesa国际传媒� response and no action was taken. The diocese failed in its sa国际传媒渄uty of care to her and were thereby negligent,sa国际传媒� the notice claims.
In its legal response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria acknowledged it ordained Hartmann and that he did serve as a priest in its jurisdiction, but in response to the sexual abuse claims, sa国际传媒渁ny such acts were unauthorized, outside the scope of his employment, unrelated to any conduct authorized and without any knowledge by the diocese.sa国际传媒�
The complainant sought unspecified damages for mental distress and pain and suffering. She told the News Bulletin the abuse has impacted her life negatively. She said she had a successful career until the trauma began affecting her and while she was raised Catholic, she has lost faith.
sa国际传媒淚 have struggled with addiction and I have fallen into despair until I have become suicidal sa国际传媒� I think that there are many other victims of trauma who can relate to that and I donsa国际传媒檛 believe Isa国际传媒檓 alone, [that] I was the only one who was assaultedsa国际传媒a国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think his first acts happened in the confession. You do that after you have become emboldened, after you believe that you can get away with it. And I really want to reach out to others. Thatsa国际传媒檚 my whole purpose in speaking.sa国际传媒�
There is sa国际传媒渁n overwhelming amount of sexual abuse in the Catholic churchsa国际传媒� that needs to be addressed, said the woman.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a lifelong burden that someone carries after theysa国际传媒檝e been sexually assaulted,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淎nd particularly, if yousa国际传媒檙e a believing Catholic, and yousa国际传媒檙e sexually assaulted by your priest, that is an act of physical assault. It is an act of mental assault, and itsa国际传媒檚 a spiritual assault. And it affects every aspect of the Catholic parish membersa国际传媒檚 life.sa国际传媒�
In a statement from the diocese, Bishop Gary Gordon stated the news was sa国际传媒渦ndoubtedly distressing for victim-survivors of sexual abuse,sa国际传媒� whom the church wants to assure of its support.
sa国际传媒淭he decision to come forward and report sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees, or volunteers may be difficult and often requires considerable courage,sa国际传媒� he said.
He said the diocese has put in place an independent reporting process managed by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, has a sa国际传媒渞esponsible ministry programsa国际传媒� to screen all members of the clergy, volunteers and employees, and has protocols to ensure safe environments for children and others who are vulnerable.
Should victims wish to involve the church in their healing plans, it will offer pastoral support and healing resources for the person and their family, he said.
Gordon also said the church prays that those who suffered sexual abuse and their families will find peace and healing from past wrongs.
The incidents happened more than 40 years ago and Talach said he and his client are sa国际传媒渘ot about to slam the present administration,sa国际传媒� but also said there needs to be change.
sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e building a reactive model to this, which I think displays a lack of understanding that this is an ongoing threat in the church,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he role and power and dynamics and sa国际传媒� employment requirements of a priest are identical today as they were when [his client] and hundreds of other people were abused in past decades. I donsa国际传媒檛 know what has magically made the risk disappear.sa国际传媒�
None of the allegations in the lawsuit were proven in court.
Talach said his client wants other potential victims to know they are not alone and they can reach out to her discreetly at hartmanntruth@gmail.com.
To access the diocesesa国际传媒檚 reporting agency, visit .
READ ALSO:
karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
