Diocese of Antigonish attempts to heal sex abuse wounds

The Diocese of Antigonish is hosting meetings in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality this week in an attempt to heal the wounds created by the sexual abuse scandal.

Three years ago, the diocese reached a landmark settlement with victims of sexual abuse by priests.

Soon after that settlement was announced, then-bishop Raymond Lahey was charged with possessing and importing child pornography. He was later convicted, sentenced to time served, and defrocked by the Holy See in Rome.

The final installment of a $16-million dollar compensation settlement for victims was paid last fall.

Bishop Brian Dunn said the meetings are an effort to reach out to all parishioners affected by the scandal.

"When we designed the whole legal settlement agreement, there was a commitment to have some kind of a reconciliation service so this has been with us for a couple of years, he said.

But besides that, there's also a sense that in preparation for our recent congress, we've heard people continually talking about their response to the sexual abuse issue. So there was a sense that we needed to continue to work on this. So this has come, really, from a real expression by the people of hurt, and anger, and betrayal, and loss of trust, and all those kinds of issues."

The settlement has become a significant financial burden for the diocese, which has lost many members in recent years, said diocese spokesperson Rev. Donald MacGillivray in an October interview.

The diocese put about 150 properties up for sale. More than 100 parishes were drained of their savings, MacGillivray said.

Also included in the sale of assets was the Casket, a local weekly newspaper owned by the diocese. It was bought by the owner of the Halifax Chronicle Herald.

The diocese has already hosted meetings in Mabou and Lower River Inhabitants this fall.

Dunn said three more meetings are planned for later this week.