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By James Peters

B.C. Supreme Court

Former Kamloops teacher, sexually abused by Catholic priest, awarded $844,000

Aug 27, 2020 | 2:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — A B.C. judge has awarded a former Kamloops resident more than $840,000 because of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a local Catholic priest more than 40 years ago.

In a decision published Tuesday (Aug. 25), Justice David Crossin agreed Rosemary Anderson was entitled to damages based on the battery she experienced during her relationship with Father Erlindo Molon.

The relationship began in the fall of 1976 and ended in the spring of 1977 while Anderson was a teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic school. Anderson filed suit against Molon and the Kamloops diocese in 2016.

According to testimony during the B.C. Supreme Court trial that began in October, 2019, Molon preyed on Anderson shortly after she arrived in Kamloops, initiating an unwanted sexual relationship when she had gone to him for spiritual care.

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She testified she brought her concerns about Molon forward to Adam Exner, the Bishop of the Kamloops diocese at the time, and while Molon was stripped of his sacraments and ejected from the church, Exner also convinced Anderson to leave.

Anderson told the court the relationship and its mismanagement by the diocese has caused emotional and spiritual wounds that have lasted her entire life.

Molon now suffers from dementia and did not participate in the trial.

Exner, who is now Archbishop Emeritus and 90 years old, testified. He admitted to being aware of rumours of sexual improprieties involving Molon prior to Molon’s relationship with Anderson.

Justice Crossin said evidence regarding Molon’s behaviour was “essentially uncontradicted” and showed that the priest was “pursuing, for his own prurient interests, the calculated exploitation of a young woman”.

Crossin noted Exner’s testimony “effectively conceded a failure of leadership, responsibility, and care” because he “chose the wrong path” in dealing with Anderson’s pleas for help.

He awarded Anderson a total of $844,140 in damages, including portions against both Molon and the Kamloops diocese.

Follow this link to read the full decision.