Despite numerous warning signs over decades, the Archdiocese of Montreal failed to take appropriate action against a former priest who was later convicted of sexually abusing minors.
That finding is at the heart of a report by former Quebec Superior Court justice Pepita Gapriolo released Nov. 25. Capriolo’s 276-page report was commissioned by the archdiocese to examine “who knew what when” in the case of former priest Brian Boucher, 58, who was defrocked last year following a canonical investigation that began in 2015.
The report details Boucher’s journey from his days as a seminarian, when complaints about his behaviour began to surface.
“Many people had complained about Boucher’s unacceptable behaviour over the years: He was rude, authoritarian, overly intense, intransigent, homophobic, racist, misogynistic and verbally — and sometimes even physically — aggressive,” Capriolo wrote.
The former justice found several “red flags” raised by parents and other priests that were routinely ignored by Boucher’s superiors, including his interest in young boys. It wasn’t until 2016 that a victim of sexual abuse lodged a formal complaint against him. He was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to eight years in prison.
“What struck me most was the passing of the buck. The need to protect the reputation of Boucher seemed to be paramount,” Capriolo said at a news conference following the release of the report.
Boucher was ordained to the priesthood in 1996, despite concerns detailed by parents of children he taught in religion classes. In response, Boucher was sent for therapy and psychological assessments, but his path to the priesthood was never blocked. The report confirms that his inappropriate behaviour continued for years. It was only in 2015 that officials began a deeper investigation after Boucher himself complained of being a victim of abuse by another priest. Bishop Thomas Dowd led the investigation that eventually discovered Boucher was the perpetrator and there were two child victims of Boucher’s abuse.
Capriolo was given wide access to archdiocesan documents in her investigation, which also included interviews with more than 60 people.
Her report lists 31 recommendations to improved accountability and transparency, the first being a recommendation that an external ombudsperson be appointed by the archdiocese to investigate all complaints against priests.
Archbishop Christian Lépine accepted Gapriolo’s conclusions “in humility and a deep sense of regret.”
“In the name of the Catholic Church in Montreal and speaking for myself personally, I wish to say to the victims, to your loved ones and your parish communities how sorry we are that you experienced the effects of such terrible criminal acts, which should never occur, never.”
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