Montreal archdiocese hires former judge to review church files, identify abuse cases - Action News
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Montreal

Montreal archdiocese hires former judge to review church files, identify abuse cases

Montreal's archdiocese has mandated a retired Superior Court judge to review its files for any information related to sexual abuse against minors. Anyone suspected of sexual abuse will be suspended for the remainder of the judge's investigation.

Former judge Andr Denis began work last December, investigation to wrap up by summer

Montreal's archdiocese has hired a retired judge to pore through church files from 1940 to 2020 with a view to finding any information relating to sexual assaults by priests, both alive and dead. (Louis-Marie Philidor/CBC)

Montreal's archdiocese has mandated a retired Quebec Superior Court justice to review its files and identify any information tied to sexual abuse against minors or vulnerable people.

In a statement on Monday, the archdiocese said AndrDenis began his work in December 2020 and will complete his task by this summer.

Archbishop Christian Lpine says anyone suspected of abuses will be suspended for the time it takes to complete an investigation.

Denis'investigation will look at files pertaining to the ecclesiastical province of Montreal, which includes the Quebec communities of Joliette, St-Jean-Longueuil, St-Jrme and Valleyfield.

Following the review, Denis has also been mandated to audit the five dioceses, looking at the years 1940 to 2020, with an eye on sexual abuse by priests who are living or deceased.

The results of the statistical audit will be released publicly and officials have promised Denis will have unfettered access to files.

Denis, a long-time Quebec jurist, notably presided over Canada's first trial involving the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, which resulted in the conviction of DsirMunyaneza a Rwandan citizen living in Canada.

Last November, former judge Pepita G. Capriolo concluded a report harshly criticizing how the archdiocese handled the case of ex-priest Brian Boucher, sentenced to eight years in 2019 for sexual assault on two minors.

The archdiocese said a 12-person committee would oversee the implementation of Capriolo's 31 recommendations to improve accountability in the church.