The Archdiocese of St. John’s is on the hook for outstanding bills the Christian Brothers of Ireland left behind after going bankrupt following the settlement of child abuse lawsuits relating to the Mount Cashel Orphanage.
The Supreme Court of Canada earlier today declined to hear one last appeal from the archdiocese, which has always denied it was responsible for the abuse that occurred at Mount Cashel dating back to the 1950s. The archdiocese has argued before the court that it was not involved in the orphanage’s day-to-day operations and that the Christian Brothers was a lay organization whose members were not ordained priests of the archdiocese. In a statement, the St. John’s archdiocese said it will need to review and analyze the ruling with its legal counsel before providing further comment.
“The Archdiocese of St. John’s has immense sympathy for those who suffered abuse at Mount Cashel Orphanage and we ask that all join with us in praying for healing for those who suffer as a result of abuse,” the statement released on its website said.
The case has made its way through the courts for more than 20 years, including a 2018 ruling at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador which found the archdiocese was not liable for the judgment against the Christian Brothers. It featured four victims as test cases for about 60 victims. A 2018 decision set damages of $2.61 million for the four men in the test case. The full amount owed is still being finalized.
The victims appealed the 2018 ruling and last July the Court of Appeals of Newfoundland and Labrador overturned the decision. The archdiocese appealed, leading to today’s Supreme Court of Canada rejection which brings the case to a close.
More to come
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