Father Bernard Bonneau was charged last June with sex crimes against a teenager and is considered unfit to stand trial.
• Also read: Ex-priest charged with sex crimes against minors
• Also read: Ex-priest charged with sex crimes against minors
Judge Claire Desgens of the Quebec court ordered a stay of proceedings Monday morning due to the defendant’s health.
The latter, like about thirty other clergy, is the target of a class-action lawsuit alleging sexual abuse that allegedly spanned several decades.
According to the class action lawsuit approved against the Archdiocese of Sherbrooke, retired priest Bernard Bonneau caused at least two casualties.
The two teenagers were allegedly attacked in the late 1980s, with one of the incidents occurring on a sailboat in Magog. Father Bonneau was a pastor at the time.
One of the victims filed a criminal complaint three months ago, but taking into account the physical and mental abilities impaired by the defendant’s illness, the court ordered a stay of the proceedings.
This means that the 88-year-old defendant is not competent to stand trial due to his cognitive disorders; and probably never will be.
Since media coverage of the matter, it has been confirmed that Montcalm High School has decided to rename its performance hall, as it until recently bore his name.
Bernard Bonneau is one of 36 clergy members against whom a class-action sexual misconduct lawsuit has been filed.
In recent weeks, around twenty new denunciations have been registered, three of which concern the former priest of the Saint-Charles Garnier parish, Father Robert Jolicoeur, who died five years ago and whose name was added to the list of suspected attackers a month ago.
From about 10 plaintiffs when it was approved last May, the class action lawsuit now has 62. The Diocese of Sherbrooke has confirmed its intention to cooperate in the litigation; An amicable settlement conference with the defendant’s lawyers is also planned for mid-October.