Were You Abused by an Ontario Catholic Diocese Employee?

Sexual, physical, and psychological abuse happened at the hands of some ordained and lay staff of Roman Catholic Church and church-affiliated community organizations (such as religious orders, camps, Sunday schools, and clubs). If you were a survivor, you may wish to explore your legal options for recovering damages to mitigate the harm done to you with a lawyer experienced in dealing with institutional abuse cases.

Since well before Confederation in 1867, the Catholic Church has been a force in Canadian social, cultural, and political life. In Ontario, perhaps the most obvious sign of the church’s impact and influence is the legal obligation to allow Catholics to establish their own schools, which receive public taxpayer funding.

Aside from the Catholic education system, there are many other groups and organizations affiliated with the church providing various social services to members as well as the public. Some of the people who were placed in a position of trust and authority over others, such as priests, then violated that trust and used it for their own gain.

We represent clients who were placed in harm’s way and abused as a result of their ties to Catholicism. The Roman Catholic Church failed to uphold its duty of care to these clients, for example by not performing a sufficient background check, not alerting police upon learning of abuse allegations, or even by helping to cover up abuse.

While many of the institutional abuse survivors we represent were students at Catholic schools, others were formerly altar boys, choir members, and volunteers. Most often their abuse occurred when they were minors and they have waited decades to come forward.

That said, as the Vatican itself acknowledged in 2021 with changes to its internal canon law, victims could be adults where a power imbalance exists. The Vatican further acknowledged that perpetrators of institutional abuse could be lay officials of the Catholic Church or other Catholic groups taking advantage of their authority, not just those who have made religious vows or been ordained as clergy, like priests, nuns, and friars. We underline that criminal and civil law in Canada have long considered it possible for perpetrators of abuse to exploit their power over other adults to coerce or force them into sexual contact.

The specific abuse that victims suffered can vary greatly in intensity and nature, from a single instance of inappropriate touching over clothing or sending a suggestive text message, to seemingly “friendly” offers of drugs, alcohol, and adult media, to repeated incidents of violent sexual assault. It may also have taken place in a variety of settings, not just inside a church or other church-owned building.

Please contact us for a free initial consultation if you experienced abuse under these circumstances. We are ready to listen, believe, and assist you with a respectful, trauma-informed approach that keeps any decisions in your hands, where they belong.

What party do we litigate against for Catholic Diocese institutional abuse claims?

As Canada’s most populous province, Ontario has more Roman Catholic dioceses, each led by a bishop, than any other. Examples include Thunder Bay, Pembroke, Timmins, London, Hamilton. Metropolitan archdioceses such as Toronto, Ottawa-Cornwall, and Kingston, which are led by archbishops, nominally oversee the dioceses but in fact each is largely self-governed. Any Catholic entities within a diocese’s bounds is subject to its authority.

Accordingly, if you were abused in a setting directly operated by the church, the diocese, as the governing body, is usually the appropriate defendant to name (rather than an individual church or parish). It is possible that your institutional abuse occurred in a diocese that the Catholic Church has since dissolved. If so, we can find the successor diocese for your claim.

Some Catholic groups and charities that are active in Ontario and which you may be familiar with are (please note that this is not a comprehensive list):

• Knights of Columbus
• Catholic Family Services (CFS)
• Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)
• Franciscans
• Dominicans
• Capuchins
• Poor Clares
• Augustinians
• Carmelite Sisters
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits of Canada)
• Mary Centre
• Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS)
• Unity Health Toronto
• Centres d’Accueil Héritage (CAH)

We stress that this list is not exhaustive and there are many other Catholic organizations in Ontario. In addition, many of the groups named above are themselves subdivided along geographic and spiritual (such as by having separate wings for priests and lay associates) lines. If you were abused in relation to any of the above groups or another Catholic organization, that group would be named as a defendant in addition to the diocese.

Other higher authorities for certain Catholic groups and orders, located outside of the diocese, might also be suitable to include as defendants.

What Kind of Compensation Do We Seek In Institutional Abuse Claims Dealing With the Catholic Diocese?

We will seek compensation based on the losses you suffered from the abuse that occurred. The losses could be minor or very pronounced. For legal purposes, they fall under two main categories, pecuniary (concrete and fairly easy to calculate, like lost wages) and non-pecuniary (intangible losses like resulting emotional pain).

Examples of losses include (but are not limited to):

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life and dignity
• Rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages, both past and future

With our help and the support of qualified experts like doctors and psychologists, you can estimate the impact of these losses, giving you a baseline for pursuing damages from defendants.

Common Experiences of Survivors of Abuse By The Catholic Dioceses

While every survivor’s journey is deeply personal, you may recognize some of these experiences and personality traits:

• Emotional challenges, such as feelings of anger, depression, or shame
• Difficulty building or maintaining relationships and issues with trust
• Impacts on your mental and physical health
• Challenges with substance use
• Struggles in maintaining stable employment
• Distrust of authority figures
• Lasting emotional or physical pain and suffering

It’s important to remember that none of these struggles are your fault. You are not to blame for what happened to you. Together, we will explore how the abuse has affected your life, ensuring your voice is heard and your story acknowledged.

Is It Too Late To File an Institutional Abuse Claim Against the Catholic Diocese?

No, it is not too late. The law has removed the statute of limitations on civil sexual abuse claims. This means that no matter how much time has passed, your right to seek justice is still protected. You are not required to have reported the abuse in the past and it’s completely normal for survivors to take time before they feel ready to share their story.

When you feel ready, we are here to support you at your own pace. Your journey is personal, and we will walk alongside you, ensuring you have the care and understanding you need.

Past legal proceedings and criminal investigations against the perpetrator of your abuse may help to substantiate your claim. As with a civil claim, it is also your right to report what happened to the police and push for a criminal investigation regardless of when you were harmed.

Ask Us About Your Potential Ontario Catholic Diocese Institutional Abuse Claim

If you experienced abuse while participating in Catholic Church-related activities and the perpetrator was in a position of authority, we urge you to contact us for a free initial consultation. Our staff is available to take your toll-free call any day, any time at 1-888-608-2111 and we can also be contacted online. We are eager to answer any questions you may have about making an institutional abuse claim and look forward to your call.