Man sexually abused by priest in Windsor, Ont., says documentary helped him share his story

Windsor Morning17:16Man abused by Windsor priest returns to parish to share his story

WARNING: This article contains references to sexual abuse and may affect those who have experienced it or know someone who has.

Chris MacLean says he knew he wanted to come forward and share his story five years ago after watching the Canadian documentary Prey about priest abuse.

MacLeansays hewas sexually abused by Father Joseph Nelligan in 1979 at Most Precious Blood Parish in Windsor, Ont. Nelligan was also MacLean's priest at F.J. Brennan High School during that time.

After watching the documentary in Toronto, he pulled aside southwestern Ontario sexual assault lawyer Rob Talach and confided him in saying he "couldn't live this lie anymore."

"He's the first person I ever told," said MacLean. "I had only known him 10minutes and he said that they had a file on Father Joe sort of made me feel good and bad at the same time."

WATCH |Chris MacLean talks about being sexually abused by his priest:

Chris MacLean talks about being sexually abused by his priest when he was 17

8 days ago

Duration 3:24

Talach says since the documentary came out in 2019 he's had up to 15 people come forward specifically identifying the film as the spark for them to speak up.

"We don't probe too much on what makes someone step forward," he said. "But I'm sure there's others where that was in the background."

According to Talach, a lot of victims of priests felt they were alone until the documentary showed them otherwise.

"Not just the journey of one survivor, a victim, but of several throughout the film I think is empowering for them It shows that justice can be achieved even after many decades."

MacLean, who was 17 at the time, was molested after a night of playing cards and drinking with a handful of other teenaged friends and Father Nelligan.

"He took my keys away and he closed the door. And before I even know it hit me," he said.

"The lights were dimmed and the whole mood had changed quite quickly. And I didn't even see it coming. It became very draconian, very fast. And when I asked him what was going on, he said, 'It's really lonely being a priest.'

Now 62, MacLean is a chiropractor and former high school teacher. His civil claim with the Catholic church was settled earlier this month.

Matthew Clarke is the director of communications at the Diocese of London and confirms to CBCNews that mediation was reached recently.

"As a blanket policy we don't comment on the specifics of any case to respect the confidentiality of the people involved," said Clarke.

"Lastly, we continue to pray for the healing and comfort of all victims of clergy sexual abuse."

MacLean says as soon as the mediation was complete the furthest thing from his mind was the undisclosed amount of money he was awarded.

"Part of being abused is you don't realize the manifestations of it over a lifetime. All I could think of was I wish I had a better relationship with my daughter. That's all I cared about. The money doesn't matter. You can't put a price tag on the dysfunction it caused over a lifetime."

On Monday, MacLean returned to the parish for the first time since it happened and spoke to CBC host Amy Dodge. He was in town to take in the documentary Prey one more time as it screened at the Windsor International Film Festival.

"I'm trying to keep my self under control."

"He was a friend. And I loved him. Which makes it harder because you felt the whole time maybe you were being groomed. And I don't like to think that. I like to think that Father Nelligan had his own issues. I forgave him a long time ago. I just haven't forgiven the church for creating him."

To this day, says MacLean, he doesn't speak poorly about Nelligan who died by suicide in 1990.

"In the moments that I knew him, I dearly loved him. And if there is a heaven, I hope he's there. And I hope before he left this earth he made restitution for the things that he did and came to peace with himself. I got no joy in his dying."

He says the effect of the abuse is prone to flare up when he sees situations of institutional abuse or an abuse of power.

"My ex-wife would say, 'But why did you react like that?' And I didn't know. It could be maybe a policeman overreacting or a teacher yelling at a kid unduly those things will always set me off."

Nelligan also spent time at other churches in places such as Windsor (Christ the King), Tillsonburg, Port Lambton and California during his career spanning from 1971 to 1990.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually abused. Resources for family and children are available through theCanadian Centre for Child Protection. You can also access crisis lines and local support services through thisGovernment of Canada websiteor theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.