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. Peter91裸聊视频檚 Roman Catholic Church at Nanaimo in 1976.
Details of the settlement were not available, but the plaintiff and her lawyer Robert Talach told the News Bulletin the matter was settled to everyone91裸聊视频檚 satisfaction.
Beginning in 1976, Hartmann is alleged to have, 91裸聊视频渙ver at least the next year,91裸聊视频� kissed her, molested her and engaged 91裸聊视频渋n other sexual activities91裸聊视频� numerous times, her notice alleges, and the incidents occurred in the church 91裸聊视频渨ithin the context of the sacrament of reconciliation, otherwise known as the confessional.91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渄ismissive91裸聊视频� response and no action was taken. The diocese failed in its 91裸聊视频渄uty of care to her and were thereby negligent,91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频渁ny such acts were unauthorized, outside the scope of his employment, unrelated to any conduct authorized and without any knowledge by the diocese.91裸聊视频�
The complainant sought unspecified damages for mental distress and pain and suffering. She told the News 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.
91裸聊视频淚 have struggled with addiction and I have fallen into despair until I have become suicidal 91裸聊视频� I think that there are many other victims of trauma who can relate to that and I don91裸聊视频檛 believe I91裸聊视频檓 alone, [that] I was the only one who was assaulted91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 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. That91裸聊视频檚 my whole purpose in speaking.91裸聊视频�
There is 91裸聊视频渁n overwhelming amount of sexual abuse in the Catholic church91裸聊视频� that needs to be addressed, said the woman.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a lifelong burden that someone carries after they91裸聊视频檝e been sexually assaulted,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd particularly, if you91裸聊视频檙e a believing Catholic, and you91裸聊视频檙e sexually assaulted by your priest, that is an act of physical assault. It is an act of mental assault, and it91裸聊视频檚 a spiritual assault. And it affects every aspect of the Catholic parish member91裸聊视频檚 life.91裸聊视频�
In a statement from the diocese, Bishop Gary Gordon stated the news was 91裸聊视频渦ndoubtedly distressing for victim-survivors of sexual abuse,91裸聊视频� whom the church wants to assure of its support.
91裸聊视频淭he decision to come forward and report sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees, or volunteers may be difficult and often requires considerable courage,91裸聊视频� he said.
He said the diocese has put in place an independent reporting process managed by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, has a 91裸聊视频渞esponsible ministry program91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渘ot about to slam the present administration,91裸聊视频� but also said there needs to be change.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e building a reactive model to this, which I think displays a lack of understanding that this is an ongoing threat in the church,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he role and power and dynamics and 91裸聊视频� 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 don91裸聊视频檛 know what has magically made the risk disappear.91裸聊视频�
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 diocese91裸聊视频檚 reporting agency, visit .
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