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Two deceased Prince George Catholic priests are among those named in a sexual abuse case filed by a man who claims the couple began to abuse him while he was in kindergarten at a denominational school.
Disclaimer: This story may be distressing for some readers.
A Delta professor and actor alleges in a new trial that Catholic priests in Prince George sexually assaulted him as a child.
Dr. Nicholas Harrison made the allegations in a notice of civil suit filed with the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver on January 4. 1977, when he was in Kindergarten to Grade 4.
“I was only six years old when the sexual abuse started,†Harrison said in a statement to Glacier Media, provided by his lawyer.
At the time, Harrison was an altar boy at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and a student at the nearby elementary school.
“I can’t find the right words to explain how the sexual abuse I suffered at such a young age impacted my life,†Harrison said. “My experiences at the Sacred Heart have left a permanent stain on my soul. I have spent my life in therapy, writing and sharing my experiences with others as an uplifting account of how these horrific violations of the social contract between adults and children are happening. “
The claim claims that Rayner used his position of power and control to coerce and manipulate Harrison.
If he reported the alleged abuse to his parents, Harrison was told that God would not love him and his family would go to hell.
“I’ve been told many times that I am a ‘bad boy’ and need to be punished to earn the love of God,†Harrison said.
The lawsuit also claims that two other people – a Paschal brother and teacher Catherine Lillian Fowlie – hit, tied, whipped and locked him in a closet.
Harrison claims the alleged abuse resulted in multiple injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, confusion of sexual orientation, low self-esteem self-esteem, low self-confidence and low self-esteem, impaired ability to support one’s marriage, inability to trust others, spiritual trauma, anger and fear of authority among others.
“My story of abuse and suffering needs to be told so that other survivors can gain the strength they need to know what happened to them was not their fault,” said Harrison. “I need to know that truth and justice can be obtained for the wrongs that I have suffered and so many others.”
Harrison is seeking damages for several reasons.
In addition to his college work, Harrison is an actor known for his appearances in films such as Scooby-Doo 2 and television series like Alcatraz, Stargate SG-1, Smallville, and The X-Files. He was also the stunt coordinator for the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vancouver.
Other defendants
The claim claims that Bishop Emeritus John Fergus O’Grady, who led the diocese from 1955 to 1986, and Bishop Emeritus Hubert Patrick O’Connor (1986 to 1991) oversaw Rayner. Archbishop Emeritus Adam Joseph Exner, former Archbishop of Vancouver and Bishop of Kamloops from 1974 to 1982, is also named in the claim as having indirect control over Rayner.
O’Connor was convicted of rape and indecent assault on female students in schools. He was later acquitted of indecent assault in a 1999 appeal and a new trial ordered on the rape charge, but the Crown decided not to proceed with the case after O’Connor apologized .
Exner was a star witness in a civil sex abuse lawsuit against “playboy priest” Erlindo Molon, a priest he supervised while bishop of Kamloops.
In 2019, the British Columbia Supreme Court ordered the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops to pay Molon’s victim, Rosemary Anderson, $ 844,140 in damages.
Harrison’s claim names the estates of Rayner, O’Mahoney and Fowlie as defendants, as all are deceased.
The list of defendants also includes the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Province of British Columbia, MOI Lacombe Canada Inc., The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Prince Rupert (also known as the Diocese of Prince George British Columbia ), the Estate of Bishop Emeritus John Fergus O’Grady, the Estate of Bishop Emeritus Most Reverend Hubert O’Connor, Bishop Emeritus Gerald Wiesner, Archbishop Emeritus Adam J. Exner, John Doe (otherwise known as the name of Brother Paschal), the estate of Catherine Lillian Fowlie and the Independent Catholic Schools Diocese of Prince George.
The Diocese of Prince George did not respond to a request for comment.
Harrison’s lawyer Sandra Kovacs said civil lawsuits are an appropriate way to hold the church to account.
“The plaintiff’s lawsuit, among others I have filed on behalf of other clients, seeks to address the root causes of clergy abuse – clericalism, celibacy, impaired psychosexual development of priests and religious, cycle victim-perpetrator, seminar system, secrecy – all of which have combined to create a culture in which abuse of children and vulnerable adults not only occurs but spreads, â€Kovacs said.
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