WARNING: This article contains information about allegations of sexual abuse.
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving accusations that a former Catholic priest on Vancouver Island sexually abused a 10-year-old girl during confession decades ago.
The woman, now 57 and whose identity is protected, filed a notice of civil claim in 2020 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, in B.C. Supreme Court. She alleges that Father Gerhard Hartmann, who has since died, used his position as an authority figure to take advantage of her when she was a parishioner at St. Peter含羞草研究社檚 Roman Catholic Church at Nanaimo in 1976.
Details of the settlement were not available, but the plaintiff and her lawyer Robert Talach told the News Bulletin the matter was settled to everyone含羞草研究社檚 satisfaction.
Beginning in 1976, Hartmann is alleged to have, 含羞草研究社渙ver at least the next year,含羞草研究社� kissed her, molested her and engaged 含羞草研究社渋n other sexual activities含羞草研究社� numerous times, her notice alleges, and the incidents occurred in the church 含羞草研究社渨ithin the context of the sacrament of reconciliation, otherwise known as the confessional.含羞草研究社� Talach said the priest was transferred to Port Hardy in June 1979.
The notice also alleges that when the woman notified the diocese early in 2000, the claim states she was met with a 含羞草研究社渄ismissive含羞草研究社� response and no action was taken. The diocese failed in its 含羞草研究社渄uty of care to her and were thereby negligent,含羞草研究社� the notice claims.
In its legal response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria acknowledged it ordained Hartmann and that he did serve as a priest in its jurisdiction, but in response to the sexual abuse claims, 含羞草研究社渁ny such acts were unauthorized, outside the scope of his employment, unrelated to any conduct authorized and without any knowledge by the diocese.含羞草研究社�
The complainant sought unspecified damages for mental distress and pain and suffering. She told the News Bulletin the abuse has impacted her life negatively. She said she had a successful career until the trauma began affecting her and while she was raised Catholic, she has lost faith.
含羞草研究社淚 have struggled with addiction and I have fallen into despair until I have become suicidal 含羞草研究社� I think that there are many other victims of trauma who can relate to that and I don含羞草研究社檛 believe I含羞草研究社檓 alone, [that] I was the only one who was assaulted含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 she said. 含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think his first acts happened in the confession. You do that after you have become emboldened, after you believe that you can get away with it. And I really want to reach out to others. That含羞草研究社檚 my whole purpose in speaking.含羞草研究社�
There is 含羞草研究社渁n overwhelming amount of sexual abuse in the Catholic church含羞草研究社� that needs to be addressed, said the woman.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a lifelong burden that someone carries after they含羞草研究社檝e been sexually assaulted,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淎nd particularly, if you含羞草研究社檙e a believing Catholic, and you含羞草研究社檙e sexually assaulted by your priest, that is an act of physical assault. It is an act of mental assault, and it含羞草研究社檚 a spiritual assault. And it affects every aspect of the Catholic parish member含羞草研究社檚 life.含羞草研究社�
In a statement from the diocese, Bishop Gary Gordon stated the news was 含羞草研究社渦ndoubtedly distressing for victim-survivors of sexual abuse,含羞草研究社� whom the church wants to assure of its support.
含羞草研究社淭he decision to come forward and report sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees, or volunteers may be difficult and often requires considerable courage,含羞草研究社� he said.
He said the diocese has put in place an independent reporting process managed by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, has a 含羞草研究社渞esponsible ministry program含羞草研究社� to screen all members of the clergy, volunteers and employees, and has protocols to ensure safe environments for children and others who are vulnerable.
Should victims wish to involve the church in their healing plans, it will offer pastoral support and healing resources for the person and their family, he said.
Gordon also said the church prays that those who suffered sexual abuse and their families will find peace and healing from past wrongs.
The incidents happened more than 40 years ago and Talach said he and his client are 含羞草研究社渘ot about to slam the present administration,含羞草研究社� but also said there needs to be change.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e building a reactive model to this, which I think displays a lack of understanding that this is an ongoing threat in the church,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭he role and power and dynamics and 含羞草研究社� employment requirements of a priest are identical today as they were when [his client] and hundreds of other people were abused in past decades. I don含羞草研究社檛 know what has magically made the risk disappear.含羞草研究社�
None of the allegations in the lawsuit were proven in court.
Talach said his client wants other potential victims to know they are not alone and they can reach out to her discreetly at hartmanntruth@gmail.com.
To access the diocese含羞草研究社檚 reporting agency, visit .
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