WARNING: This article contains information about allegations of sexual abuse.
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving accusations that a former Catholic priest on Vancouver Island sexually abused a 10-year-old girl during confession decades ago.
The woman, now 57 and whose identity is protected, filed a notice of civil claim in 2020 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, in B.C. Supreme Court. She alleges that Father Gerhard Hartmann, who has since died, used his position as an authority figure to take advantage of her when she was a parishioner at St. PeterB次元官网网址檚 Roman Catholic Church at Nanaimo in 1976.
Details of the settlement were not available, but the plaintiff and her lawyer Robert Talach told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin the matter was settled to everyoneB次元官网网址檚 satisfaction.
Beginning in 1976, Hartmann is alleged to have, B次元官网网址渙ver at least the next year,B次元官网网址� kissed her, molested her and engaged B次元官网网址渋n other sexual activitiesB次元官网网址� numerous times, her notice alleges, and the incidents occurred in the church B次元官网网址渨ithin the context of the sacrament of reconciliation, otherwise known as the confessional.B次元官网网址� Talach said the priest was transferred to Port Hardy in June 1979.
The notice also alleges that when the woman notified the diocese early in 2000, the claim states she was met with a B次元官网网址渄ismissiveB次元官网网址� response and no action was taken. The diocese failed in its B次元官网网址渄uty of care to her and were thereby negligent,B次元官网网址� the notice claims.
In its legal response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria acknowledged it ordained Hartmann and that he did serve as a priest in its jurisdiction, but in response to the sexual abuse claims, B次元官网网址渁ny such acts were unauthorized, outside the scope of his employment, unrelated to any conduct authorized and without any knowledge by the diocese.B次元官网网址�
The complainant sought unspecified damages for mental distress and pain and suffering. She told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin the abuse has impacted her life negatively. She said she had a successful career until the trauma began affecting her and while she was raised Catholic, she has lost faith.
B次元官网网址淚 have struggled with addiction and I have fallen into despair until I have become suicidal B次元官网网址� I think that there are many other victims of trauma who can relate to that and I donB次元官网网址檛 believe IB次元官网网址檓 alone, [that] I was the only one who was assaultedB次元官网网址次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think his first acts happened in the confession. You do that after you have become emboldened, after you believe that you can get away with it. And I really want to reach out to others. ThatB次元官网网址檚 my whole purpose in speaking.B次元官网网址�
There is B次元官网网址渁n overwhelming amount of sexual abuse in the Catholic churchB次元官网网址� that needs to be addressed, said the woman.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lifelong burden that someone carries after theyB次元官网网址檝e been sexually assaulted,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd particularly, if youB次元官网网址檙e a believing Catholic, and youB次元官网网址檙e sexually assaulted by your priest, that is an act of physical assault. It is an act of mental assault, and itB次元官网网址檚 a spiritual assault. And it affects every aspect of the Catholic parish memberB次元官网网址檚 life.B次元官网网址�
In a statement from the diocese, Bishop Gary Gordon stated the news was B次元官网网址渦ndoubtedly distressing for victim-survivors of sexual abuse,B次元官网网址� whom the church wants to assure of its support.
B次元官网网址淭he decision to come forward and report sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees, or volunteers may be difficult and often requires considerable courage,B次元官网网址� he said.
He said the diocese has put in place an independent reporting process managed by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, has a B次元官网网址渞esponsible ministry programB次元官网网址� to screen all members of the clergy, volunteers and employees, and has protocols to ensure safe environments for children and others who are vulnerable.
Should victims wish to involve the church in their healing plans, it will offer pastoral support and healing resources for the person and their family, he said.
Gordon also said the church prays that those who suffered sexual abuse and their families will find peace and healing from past wrongs.
The incidents happened more than 40 years ago and Talach said he and his client are B次元官网网址渘ot about to slam the present administration,B次元官网网址� but also said there needs to be change.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e building a reactive model to this, which I think displays a lack of understanding that this is an ongoing threat in the church,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he role and power and dynamics and B次元官网网址� employment requirements of a priest are identical today as they were when [his client] and hundreds of other people were abused in past decades. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what has magically made the risk disappear.B次元官网网址�
None of the allegations in the lawsuit were proven in court.
Talach said his client wants other potential victims to know they are not alone and they can reach out to her discreetly at hartmanntruth@gmail.com.
To access the dioceseB次元官网网址檚 reporting agency, visit .
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