The double jeopardy of abuse victims

How is this for an example of double jeopardy reported in today's Edmonton Journal?


First jeopardy. A Quebec priest, Paul-Henri Lachance, betrayed the trust of a young girl and her family and abused the girl, Shirley Christensen now 36, over a period of two years between the ages of six and eight. He pled guilty in 2009 and was sentenced to 18 months jail.

Second jeopardy. Christensen's parents informed the archbishop after their daughter confided in them. The Archbishop told them Lachance would be dealt with and not to disclose the information to others. Being good and obedient Catholics they did what the archbishop told them. As an adult Christenson tried to sue the Archdiocese of Quebec City as being responsible for Lachance and turning a blind eye after the allegations were brought to the attention of the archbishop. The same archdioces that traded on the parents' trust and instructed them not to disclose the information dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that more than three years had passed since the alleged abuse.

Hello? Is anyone listening out there in the presbyteries and bishop's residences? Please can we have some actions to give credibility to the Pope's words to the Irish victims of abuse and their families?

"You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated. Many of you found that, when you were courageous enough to speak of what happened to you, no one would listen. Those of you who were abused in residential institutions must have felt that there was no escape from your sufferings. It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church. In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel." (Letter to the Church in Ireland)


The first betrayal of trust can be put down to the depraved human weakness of an individual priest. The detached, calculating meanness of the second betrayal is, in my eyes, the greater scandal because, apart from making a mockery of the Pope's apology, it denies or invalidates the pain/anger/shame/guilt/humiliation that abuse victims have carried with them ever since their abuse first began. In effect, this woman has been victimised yet again. As the Pope said, it is understandable if she finds it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church.

Clearly, the Pope does not have a handle on the feelings of all his bishops when he speaks about "the shame and remorse that we all feel." There are at least some who do not feel enough shame and remorse as to act on it.