Canadian priest sentenced to 5 years, then released on bail; bishop thwarted police investigation

November 11, 2009

Father Bernard Cloutier has been sentenced to five years in prison for abusing teenage altar boys. The Ontario priest was convicted of four counts of indecent assault and gross indecency and two counts of sexual assault. The judge who sentenced him had determined that Bishop Gérard Dionne, now 90, had thwarted a police investigation into Father Cloutier’s abuse in 1983.

Ruling that Father Cloutier presents no current danger, an appellate judge has released him on bail while his appeal is pending. “It is simply wrong to visit upon Cloutier the sins of the bishop,” Father Cloutier’s attorney argued.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic priest released on bail one day after sentencing for sexual abuse (Globe and Mail)
• 'Home was never home to me again' (Sudbury Star)
• Canadian bishop thwarted police investigation of abusive priest, judge finds (CWN, 11/09/09)