Abuse Crisis · Clergy Sexual Abuse Report

June 2021 Implementation Working Group Update

June 28, 2021


Click here to download the June 2021 IWG Update

Introduction

With the goal of providing better care for victims, improving reporting systems and increasing transparency, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, is committed to publishing regular updates regarding the implementation of the recommendations received from the Case Review Committee (CRC) in late 2019. The Implementation Working Group (“IWG”) oversees this work and will publish progress reports each June and November for the foreseeable future.

The process is bearing fruit. This report shares both positive developments as well as ongoing challenges. In addition, we have been sharing our resources and strategies with other dioceses in Canada.

This work is critical to helping people heal who have been deeply affected by clergy abuse. The Church is firmly committed to addressing clerical sexual abuse and underlying contributing factors fully and honestly. Our goal is to put an end to clerical sexual abuse.

31 Recommendations 

You can find the full text of all the recommendations at rcav.org/abuse-crisis/abuse-report/2019#recommendations.


Progress Since the December 2020 Update 

  1. The Office of Victim/Survivor Support began operating on July 20, 2020. Since then, services have been expanded to include the Dioceses of Victoria, Kamloops, and Prince George. See Recommendation #1.
  2. The reconstituted Review Board is chaired by Suzanne Nixon and comprises a majority of lay people. More on the Board’s members and mandate will be available in an upcoming publication. See Recommendation #2.
  3. All files related to clerical sexual abuse are now centrally located at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre and can be accessed by the lay Chair of the Review Board. See Recommendation #6.
  4. The IWG and the Archbishop have committed to publishing progress reports twice a year in June and November. See Recommendation #7.
  5. Updated Safe Environment policies took effect on March 31, 2021 and can be reviewed here. See Recommendation #12.
  6. All allegations of sexual misconduct involving a cleric and an adult are now forwarded to the Review Board. See Recommendation #16.
  7. Fr. Bryan Duggan, a priest of the Archdiocese, recently completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and will begin to form a team of trauma-informed clerics. See Recommendation #18.
  8. The ad hoc Seminary Committee continues to discern, discuss, and propose recommendations related to the application and formation process of archdiocesan seminarians. The Committee consists of ten members and includes lay persons and religious, both male and female, and clerics. See Recommendation #19.
  9. A committee to address clericalism began meeting in March 2021. Its task is to study this recommendation and propose practical measures to address clericalism in our local Church. The committee consists of 8 members and includes lay, religious, and clergy, including two members of the CRC that made the original recommendation. See Recommendation #25.
  10. The CCCB, through the work of its Standing Committee for Responsible Ministry and the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, recently launched a third-party reporting service through Clearview. This system receives allegations of abuse and/or coverups by bishops in Canada. See Recommendation #28.

Objectives Still Outstanding

  1. At this time, archdiocesan staff are filling the role of accompanying those individuals who report abuse, based on the victim/survivor preferences. Reporters guide the process in terms of the frequency of communication desired, what resources they wish or need to access, and ongoing updates. The continued development and implementation of a comprehensive Victim/Survivor Care plan is ongoing. See Recommendation #4.
  2. The Archdiocese does not yet have access to files of all priests from religious communities who have served here. See Recommendation #6.
  3. A review of archdiocesan files of all clerics will be undertaken by a third party. This will include a review of priests from religious who served in the Archdiocese. See Recommendation #10.
  4. A system for annual performance reviews has not been completed or implemented. See Recommendation #15.
  5. (While almost all known abusers are deceased), no known living abusers have accepted the offer of a support and accountability circle. See Recommendation #22.
  6. Based on the model developed by the Diocese of Victoria, we are preparing for listening circles to commence once parishes are fully re-opened after the pandemic. See Recommendation #23.

Corrections and Updates Section 

The IWG wishes to correct the November 2019 and 2020 reports that implied the CRC reviewed all the clerical sexual abuse related files. This was not the case. Some members of the Committee reviewed the files and orally presented summaries covering a selection of the files and the information therein to the Committee members. Other issues involving abusive forms of misconduct were only discussed in general terms.

Update: Fr. Johannes Holzapfel

Fr. Johannes Holzapfel was born in Germany on August 2, 1923 and ordained in 1953, after partial studies in Germany and one year at Christ the King Seminary. He served at the following parishes and in the following roles in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

  1. Corpus Christi, Vancouver: 1953
  2. St. Patrick’s, Vancouver: 1955
  3. St. Joseph’s, Powell River: 1955–1956
  4. Left the Archdiocese to go to Mexico for missionary work
  5. St. Margaret’s, Ocean Falls: 1958-1960
  6. St. Patrick’s, Vancouver: 1960
  7. Our Lady of Good Hope, Hope: 1960–1963
  8. St. Joseph’s, Squamish: 1963
  9. Medical leave after refusal of assignment
  10. St. John the Apostle, Vancouver: 1965-1966
  11. St. Margaret’s, Ocean Falls: 1966-1967
  12. He requested a leave of absence and release from his priestly vows in Jan 1967. The leave of absence was granted but the release from vows was not considered until after the leave ended.
  13. He worked as a volunteer at St. Mary’s, Vancouver and at Youville Residence, Vancouver from 1967 until 1972.
  14. St. Ann’s, Abbottsford: 1972–1974
  15. He returned to Germany in 1974. He worked in Paderborn and Aachen but was still incardinated in Vancouver.

Holzapfel died in Germany in early 1997. One victim/survivor came forward in the 1990’s and another in 2007. Both reports related to his time spent in St. Mary’s Parish, Vancouver, in the 1960s and included allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a minor. The Archdiocese provided counselling to, and reached financial settlements with, the victim/survivors. In addition, a member of the CRC received an allegation from someone reporting abuse while Holzapfel was in Port Alice BC in the 1950s. The person remembers sharing her experiences with someone at her church in 1986; she reported feeling dismissed and even being told that she was vindictive for raising the issue. This person recently died. While the Archdiocese does not have a record of this interaction, we want to share her story.

Update: Paul Blancard 

Paul Blancard, formerly a priest in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, was profiled in the 2019 report. In March of 2021, a new lawsuit was brought forward by another person; the case is currently before the Court.


Names for Publication

Fr. Roland Joncas was born in Edmonton and studied to become a Jesuit. When he did not complete his final vows with the Order, he was ordained a priest on June 21, 1957, in Montreal. After a period teaching at a Residential School in Spanish, Ontario he was incardinated in Vancouver in 1962.

He served at the following parishes and in the following roles in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

  1. Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver: 1961
  2. St. Mary’s, Chilliwack: 1962 to 1963
  3. St. Joseph’s, Powell River: 1963 to 1965
  4. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Surrey: 1966-1971
  5. St. Joseph’s, Vancouver: 1971-1977
  6. Chaplain at Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital, Vancouver: 1977-1980
  7. Chaplain at the Port of Vancouver: 1980-1997

In 1992, a woman reported to the Archdiocese that Fr. Joncas had sexually abused her when she was about 10 years old, around 1963-64. The Archdiocese provided counselling for her. Fr. Joncas died in 2000. Around 2002, the Archdiocese became aware of another allegation regarding a potential male victim, who was also around 10 years old at the time of the reported abuse.

Br. Edward Patrick English, CFC was born on August 15, 1948 and became a Christian Brother in 1970s. He served at the following parishes and in the following roles in the Vancouver area:

  1. Sunday School Teacher at St. Michael’s Parish, Burnaby: 1978
  2. Teacher at STM in Burnaby and VC in Vancouver: 1976 to 1987

In 1989, Br. English was charged with abuse of minors at St. Thomas More Collegiate. During the proceedings, it was proven that his previous abuse at the Mount Cashel orphanage had been known to local government and law enforcement, but all parties reached an agreement requiring Br. English to leave the province. He received “treatment” before the Christian Brothers transferred him to BC, without informing the Archdiocese of his past abuse. He taught here up until the time of his arrest. The Archdiocese of Vancouver did not appoint or employ teachers at schools run by the Christian Brothers. A new class action lawsuit related to sexual abuse at certain Christian Brothers schools was filed in February 2021 and is currently before the courts. A further update on this class action is provided below.

Fr. Frederick Robert Nielsen was born on May 10, 1935, and ordained June 2, 1962, as a priest of the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Following his education at Columbia University, he served in the following role in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

  1. Counsellor at local high schools from 1967 to 1972.

In late 2013 the Archdiocese received complaints from a total of five individuals alleging sexual abuse in the 1971/72 school year. As a result, Fr. Nielsen entered into a settlement agreement and immediately ceased his ministry.

Fr. Duncan George Goguillot was born in Edmonton on May 16, 1934, and ordained June 11, 1960. He served at the following parishes in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

  • Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver: 1960
  • St. Patrick’s, Vancouver: July 3, 1960
  • St. Mary’s, Chilliwack: August 1960
  • Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver: Sept. 14, 1961
  • St. Andrew’s, Vancouver: Sept. 17, 1962
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel, Surrey: Sept 14, 1963
  • Immaculate Conception, Delta: July 4, 1964
  • St. Mary’s, Chilliwack: July 18, 1969 – April 22, 1979

Fr. Goguillot died in 2018. In March of 2020, a letter alleging abuse by Fr. Goguillot was received. In March of 2021, a lawsuit detailing the allegations was filed. The reporting person was an 11–13-year-old boy at the time. Due to this case being before the Court, no further comment can be made at this time.

Fr. William Crawford Mendenhall was born in Oakland, California on November 18, 1948 and ordained at Holy Rosary Cathedral on June 24, 1983. He served at the following parishes and in the following roles in the Archdiocese of Vancouver:

  1. Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver: 1983-1986
  2. Director, Catechetics Office, Vancouver: 1983-1986
  3. St. Anthony of Padua, Vancouver: 1986-1992
  4. Chaplain to Missionaries of Charity: 1988
  5. Russian Mission: January 1992
  6. St. Stephen’s, North Vancouver: 1992-1993
  7. Chaplain to St Thomas Aquinas High School, North Vancouver: 1992-1993
  8. Mission to Russia: August 1993
  9. St. Ann’s, Abbottsford: 1995-1997
  10. Director of Religious Instruction at St. John Brebeuf RSS, Abbotsford: 1996
  11. Mission to Russia: 1997-1998
  12. Sts. Joachim & Ann, Aldergrove: 1999-2003

In 1998, the Archdiocese received an allegation of “sexual misconduct involving an adult man.” When confronted with this allegation, Fr. Mendenhall admitted that “it might have occurred.” Counselling and a financial settlement were provided, and Fr. Mendenhall agreed to certain restrictions in his ministry. In 2003, a second man came forward with a similar allegation. After an investigation, Fr. Mendenhall admitted to the facts of the case and resigned from Sts. Joachim and Ann. He abruptly ceased prescribed “assessment and treatment”, abandoned his ministry and left the country shortly after. He was laicized in 2019 after having been absent from his post for years.


Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Clerical Sexual Abuse 

In 2020, the Archdiocese was served with a Notice of a Class Action lawsuit on behalf of any victims of clerical sexual abuse during a time horizon which is yet to be determined. While a Fr. Conaghan was named, the Archdiocese has not received any additional complaints regarding this priest and people participating in this legal action will be able to name other clergy members. We will provide updates as the class is defined and the suit progresses.


Class Action Lawsuit Regarding Abuse at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate 

In 2021, the Archdiocese was served with a Notice of a Class Action lawsuit on behalf of any victims of sexual abuse by the Christian Brothers who worked at their two local high schools between the years of 1963 to present. Br. Edward English (profile above) was named as an accused and other Brothers may be added. The Archdiocese has never operated these two schools. The action is currently before the courts. We will provide updates as the suit progresses.


Additional Cases 

Two additional cases are in settlement discussions and legal processes are ongoing. We will not disclose the alleged offenders at this time out of respect for the victim/survivors’ process. We anticipate addressing these cases in the November 2021 report.


Conclusion 

We recognize that priests who continued in ministry after the receipt of allegations should not have been allowed to do so. Thanks to the work of the CRC and other groups, we have been able to improve care for victim/survivors and implement better systems to create safe environments for everyone in our communities. We understand that we have much work to do in order to regain trust and make greater progress in our communities.

As an ongoing part of the work against clerical sexual abuse, the Archdiocese continues to encourage victims of abuse to come forward and report their experiences to the Office of Victim/Survivor Support which can be reached at (604) 363-7338 or at 1-800–968-3146 as well as to civil authorities. We thank the survivors who have spoken out. We recognize how much courage it takes and we appreciate your strength in shedding light on this history.

If you would like to share ideas regarding how we can better care for victim/survivors, please feel free to write us at [email protected].

Click here to download the 2021 Implementation Working Group Update


How do you recognize clericalism?

In November of 2019, the Report on Clerical Sexual Abuse made 31 recommendations for preventing and investigating sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. In particular, recommendation #25 called for “…the immediate establishment of a leadership team comprised of lay, religious and clergy to prayerfully explore the development of an Archdiocese-wide plan” to combat “the inherent evil of clericalism” within both the laity and clergy of the Archdiocese.

This recommendation requires the development of “…a strategy for developing and maintaining a Church which more fully reflects the spirit of Vatican II (Lumen gentium and Apostolicam actuositatem, for example)” as individuals, communities, and as an institution.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, created a committee to study the problem of clericalism. The new committee’s task is to study this recommendation and propose practical measures to reduce clericalism in our archdiocese. The committee includes lay, religious, and clergy. This membership includes two members of the Case Review Committee that made the original recommendation.

To ensure that it has clear focus, the committee has come up with a working definition of clericalism:

Clericalism is a misplacement of responsibility with little or no accountability of the ordained ministers and lay faithful in the people God. This leads the faithful and ordained clergy to expect that ordained ministers are better than and should rule over everyone else among the People of God which further leads to abuses of power and hinders the universal call to holiness and the mission of evangelization.

The committee plans to make practical suggestions that will help our local church establish right relationship between the clergy and laity so that we can all better work together to build God’s Kingdom. In doing so, we must retain what is positive in the exercise of the priestly vocation and its relationship with the laity while working against attitudes and practices that have led to, among other things, abuse.

Our entire community, the laity and clergy, need to understand that we are all part of the problem – and therefore are all part of the solution. On the one hand, some pastors try to reserve all decisions on all matters to themselves, and, on the other hand, too often the lay faithful let their pastor make all the decisions.  Neither is healthy for the life of the Church. Priests should understand that their desire to serve does not mean doing everything, that one of the primary responsibilities of leadership is to find, encourage and develop leaders within the parish community. Likewise, the laity cannot avoid the responsibilities proper to their own vocation as baptized Christians.  

We recognize that in life, achieving “balance” is fundamental. There have been times in the Church’s history where the relationship between the clergy and the laity has become totally unbalanced. We need to recognize that to a significant degree the Church’s problems – abuse and other scandals – are a consequence of that imbalance and that it is “our” problem as a church, not simply a problem for the clergy to solve - an attitude which embeds clericalist attitudes even further. 

Pope Francis has called for a Church-wide adoption of solidarity from top to bottom – papacy to parish, bishop to parishioner, including all clerics in-between. In his August 2018 “Letter to the People of God,” Pope Francis defines solidarity as the antithesis of clericalism: “If, in the past, the response was one of omission, today we want solidarity, in the deepest, most challenging sense, to become our way of forging present and future history….Consequently, the only way we have to respond to this evil [of clericalism] that has darkened so many lives is to experience it as a task regarding all of us as the People of God.”

The committee is working to find practical, measurable, and meaningful ways of putting the Pope’s words into practice throughout the Archdiocese. Together we will seek to bring balance, solidarity, and joy to the life of our Church remembering that we have all been called to holiness as members baptized into the priesthood of Christ.