Atlantic Catholic - Diocese of Antigonish

PAGE 2 The Atlantic Catholic — August 7, 2010Diocesan NewsMartin Calls Catholics to Greater PrayerEmotionallycharged yearfor abusevictimBy Nicole MyshakIt’s been nearly one year since thesigning of a historic agreement thatsettled a class action lawsuit broughtagainst the Diocese of Antigonishfor sexual abuse perpetrated bymembers of its clergy.Ronald Martin, the representativeplaintiff in the lawsuit, initiated theproceedings following the 2002suicide of his brother David. Thedeceased’s suicide note prompteda criminal investigation againstFather Hugh Vincent MacDonaldthat led to the priest being chargedwith more than two dozen countsof sexual assault. However, FatherMacDonald died in 2004 beforefacing trial.In reflecting on the settlement’sanniversary Martin recalls theemotionally charged journey thathas been this last year.The husband and father of eightrecounts how immediately followingthe Aug. 7 signing of the settlementagreement he was “very pleased andhopeful that things were about tomove in a positive direction.”That was until Bishop RaymondLahey was charged with importationof child pornography on Sept. 25 oflast year. “That really knocked thewind out of everybody’s sails in theentire diocese,” attests Martin.Consequently the first anniversaryof the settlement agreement isn’texclusively a joyous one.“A year later it still feels reallyVeritas Catholic Books and GiftsThe latest books, magazines,DVDs and VideosUseful to know our faithbetter and to speak for it1546 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3X7Tel: (902) 429-7216; fax: (902) 429-7237email: info@veritasbooks.caSt. Bernard’s Veritas Outlet, EnfieldTel: 883-8834 Fax: 883-2461And in Cape Breton:Veritas Volunteer Extension & Lending Library35 Rear Intervale Rd. (Glencoe Rd.), Judique Intervale(902) 787-2103Ronald Martin signs his class action lawsuit agreement with the Dioceseof Antigonish during a press conference held in Halifax in August 2009.The lawsuit, and $15 million settlement, was in relation to sexual abuseperpetrated by members of the clergy of the diocese. Martin’s lawyer JohnMcKiggan looks on. (File photo/Myshak)tragic,” he asserts. “It feels likethe diocese is really suffering as awhole and so it’s not something thatI feel is like a celebration.”Martin also notes an ironic twistthat accompanied news of BishopLahey’s arrest because, prior tothis development, “it seemedthe settlement agreement was acelebration” for those directlyimpacted by sexual abuse. And,though others may have supportedthe settlement, he perceives they“didn’t own or enter into [it] exceptfor the fact that it was going to be atremendous burden on the diocesefinancially.”However, after charges were laidagainst Bishop Lahey, “the wholecrisis became a diocesan thing andsomething everyone owned andfelt.”“It really changed how peoplelooked at the whole situation,”suggests Martin.OngoingcontroversyMartin explains that despitehaving received great support frommany who agree with the necessityof his actions, there have “beensome people who say, ‘look whatyou’ve done.’”“I’ve had to have broad shouldersfor that because it’s not what I’vedone,” he counters. “I didn’t causethis. This happened a long time agowith these priests who abused theirpower and so I just have to stayfocused on that.”While he understands and sharesin the strain caused by the selling ofChurch assets to pay for the lawsuitsettlement, Martin also wonders ifthe diocese is not perhaps benefitingfrom their unburdening of propertieswhich are unused and which costthe local Church in tax dollars.“There’s a lot of properties in thediocese that are not being used,” heobserves. “Sometimes I worry thatthis might be kind of a scapegoat forthe diocese to get rid of propertiesthat they didn’t want anyway.”The Cape Breton man cites theexample of his home church of St.Agnes in New Waterford.Although he’s loath to see itsold, Martin knows the church haslittle “worth to the general public”and that its value to any prospectivebuyers is really only the property onwhich it stands.“I don’t know how that’s goingto alleviate a lot of the financialburden for us,” he says of suchproperties. “I’m not sure. I havemixed emotions about all of that.”EncouragingwordsThe parishioner of St. TheresaChurch in Sydney is well aware ofempty pews on account of those whohave left the Church due to recentevents and — even though he’sadamant this is an understandablechoice — he hopes his fellowCatholics decide to stay.“I just say to people, ‘if you canhang on, if you can stay, please dothat. Just for yourself, please dothat and try to work through thisthing and at the end of the day weare going to have a Catholic Churchin the Diocese of Antigonish and itwill look very different.’”Martin insists this differencecan be a positive one, even if itmeans less Church owned buildingsand properties. This is becausehe’s confident that such a faithcommunity would be worshippingGod “with integrity, truth andhonesty.”“It can be as simple as sitting in abarn worshipping together if we’retogether there in truth,” proposesMartin of a Church of humblermeans.In his crusade for greater truthand integrity Martin has beengreatly aided and strengthened bythe prayerful support of his brothersand sisters in Christ who themselvessuffer because of these sins andscandals within the Church.“That is what helps me to dowhat I do,” he confirms of theirencouragement. “I know thatthese people are suffering. They’resuffering just as I’m suffering.They’re suffering in a differentway than I’m suffering but they’resuffering because their whole Churchhas been turned upside down.”“Yet in the midst of that painand suffering they’re still saying tome, ‘we prayerfully support you.We don’t know what else to do butwe can pray for this whole thing,’”adds Martin. “And that’s all I’veasked from the iocese since thevery beginning, was that we need tocontinue to pray as a diocese.”A call to prayerMartin is adamant as to thenecessity of praying for the Churchand victims of abuse.“It’s going to be a rough roadahead for this diocese and for manydioceses throughout the world,” hestates. “We’re not the only ones“I know that thesepeople are suffering.They’re suffering justas I’m suffering . . .— Ronald Martinstruggling with this. There’s stuffhappening all over the CatholicChurch.”Accordingly Martin suggests thatintercessions for these intentionsshould be included in the prayersof the faithful at Mass. He alsosuggests prayer outside the liturgyas well.“We should be coming together