Church sexual abuse: Canadian archdiocese to pay $104 million to victims of sexual abuse

Sylvia Claire / July 8, 2024

In 2020, the archdiocese of Saint John, in eastern Canada, was found responsible by the Canadian courts for one of the country's biggest child abuse scandals, ending two decades of legal battles and paving the way for compensation for surviving victims.

This sexual violence was committed by priests and religious over several decades from 1940 onwards, notably in the Mount Cashel orphanage for boys.

The Canadian courts had asked a third party, Ernst & Young, to determine the amount of these indemnities.

292 victims will each receive between 55,000 and 850,000 Canadian dollars, according to the document consulted by AFP.

Geoff Budden, one of the victims' lawyers, told AFP that the amount was "appropriate" and in line with "similar compensations in other courts".

"Maybe people didn't really grasp the scale of the problem and how widespread the abuse was," he continued.

The Archdiocese of Saint John declared bankruptcy in 2021. To date, it has raised C$40 million from the sale of its buildings.

However, the lawyer is "hopeful" that the victims will receive the full amount. "There are still assets to be processed, including certain insurance products," he says.

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Church sexual abuse: Canadian archdiocese to pay $104 million to victims of sexual abuse

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