The announcement by the bishop of the diocese in which Grenville Christian College was located near Brockville came two days after a Toronto law firm sent notices to the diocese, the school and one of the former headmasters, saying it represented a group of former students considering civil action.
Bishop George Bruce interviewed about 40 former students of the school who claimed they variously experienced physical, sexual and psychological abuse at the school.
He informed them by e-mail yesterday that he had been advised by legal counsel to suspend his investigation until “a possible Ontario Provincial Police investigation arising from similar allegations against the individuals you had complained about as well as the possibility of a civil class-action lawsuit … are resolved.”
A spokesperson for the bishop says this is standard procedure.
Former students say the bishop was aware of the OPP involvement when he met with them as part of his inquiry. Former headmasters Father Charles Farnsworth (and Rev. Gordon Mintz?) were notified of the bishops investigation. Farnsworth is retired, according to correspondence from the diocese: “Rev Mintz remains a priest of this diocese in good standing and remains on leave until a suitable ministry can be identified for him.”
There is no word on how many alumni may participate in the possible class action lawsuit.
Former students said yesterday they felt betrayed by Bishop Bruce’s decision.
“He met with us in a pastoral capacity and it seemed to us a commitment,” said Jennifer Reid, now a Peterborough teacher. “It’s really disappointing that we’re still not being heard.
“They still haven’t looked at the role of the church and how the church was entangled with the school. Those aren’t legal issues or police issues. Those are church issues and the church is again ignoring its pastoral responsibility to people who were hurt.”
Former students and staff have been chatting in a forum, their stories about abuse at the school surfaced in national media when it was announced the private school was closing.
Prior posts here
The Anglican Journal had an article on the church investigation October 1, 2007 and an article on lessons learned from prior residential abuse October 8th.
The basic process: three parts church, criminal and civil
-formal complaints are received by the church and the police
-accused Anglican employees are notified by the church
-the diocese is served notice of a possible class action suit
-the bishop suspends his investigation upon notification until legalities are resolved
- criminal investigators (OPP and Crown) make decisions on whether or not charges will be laid
- civil action participants (lawyers, complainants) make decisions on whether to proceed against the church and against individuals
When or if the church resumes it’s investigation:
The process also requires Bishop Bruce to notify the subject of the complaints “and allow a response if they wish.” The complainant is then informed of the response and if he or she is not satisfied with it, “the process may continue with a face-to-face meeting between the parties,” with advisors present, said Bishop Bruce in a message to the diocese. “My decision will then follow.”
Bishop Bruce also has the discretion to refer the matter to the diocesan court, which would see him removed from the process until the court has reached a decision.
The Ottawa Citizen - Possible lawsuit halts investigation of college
Published 1 year, 1 month ago
Search
Subscribe 
You are currently browsing the Bene Diction Blogs On weblog archives.
Related Entries
- Grenville Christian College - no criminal charges
- Grenville Christian College -another lawsuit
- Grenville Christian College - The Canadian Anglican Church responds
- Grenville Christian College - Class Action lawsuit filed
- Grenville Christian College - the investigation widens - OPP
- The Anglican Church - again
- Grenville Christian College
- Canadian Anglican decision
- Conservative Canadian Anglicans ready to make their move
- Archbishop of Canterbury visiting Canada
For blog design, Wordpress or MovableType coding or blog consulting, see cre8d design.
The Anglican Church of Canada, now led by Archbishop Fred Hiltz, has displayed a doubtful and variable attitude towards its victims of abuse. Hiltz’s concern for the victims of the Anglican Residential Schools has been superficial to say the least in a church where the money for individual help was in a large part withdrawn by the Anglican Amending Agreement [a triple 'A' parsimonious, niggardly act that gave the ACC a whopping 40% refund] while; at the same time, Hiltz personally used the issue to raise cash for non essential and non related causes like new robes and cathedral restoration. The Anglican Journal [that stalwart bastion of Anglican fundraising] this month reports that this windfall will be “returned to ACC national reserves” with perhaps a miserly token to reconcilliation as long as it’s Anglican reconcilliation, and not a penny outside the church! Wow! That’s Anglican generosity under a full head of steam! In the last couple of months, instead of initiating a transparent and open enquiry into events at Grenville Christian School, silence and platitudes from the Primate’s office have indicated yet another cover-up in the making. The latest news is that Bishop Bruce has shut down the ‘inquiry’ due to ‘possible class action liabilty issues’. Let me tell you something: Hiltz’s Anglicans and their money are not easily parted!
So, how do we know how the Anglican hierarchy feel about child abuse? Well, in November of 2007 the Anglican position on past abuse speaks volumes, here’s what they said: “The Anglican church operated 26 of 80 boarding schools attended by aboriginals from the mid-19th century into the 1970s. In recent years, hundreds of natives had sued the church and the federal government, which owned the schools, alleging physical and sexual abuse. Alleging… This is how Archbishop Hiltz and his bishops deal with with past abuse: they write it off as allegations.
The abuse must STOP!