Nova Scotia bishop arrested on child pornography charges
The Canadian Press
CBC News is reporting that a Catholic bishop from Nova Scotia has been charged with possessing, distributing and selling child pornography after a search of his laptop computer at the Ottawa airport.
Raymond Lahey resigned from his post with the diocese of Antigonish on the weekend, before news of his Sept. 15 arrest became public knowledge.
He was picked up at the Ottawa airport following an investigation by the Ottawa Police Service, in conjunction with Nova Scotia’s child exploitation unit.
In August, the 69-year-old bishop signed off on a $13 million class action settlement involving sexual abuse in the Antigonish diocese that dated back to 1950.
A notice Saturday from Anthony Mancini, the Archbishop of Halifax, said that Pope Benedict had accepted Lahey’s resignation “for personal reasons.”
Lahey informed his parishioners in a letter the same day that he’d resigned “to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”
The Guardian is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes to a moderator for the website. Once it has been approved, your comment will be displayed on the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
Big surprise, eh? from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Wow.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Steve from PE writes: personal renewal
what kind of mind does it take to say something like that, considering the enormity of the charges;
possessing, distributing and selling child pornography!!
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Ray Mahar from City, PE writes: What a revolting situation !!
Will it never end.
Please excuse the language.
But G*d* D*** his hide.
He is a disgrace to ALL CHRISTIANS ALIKE.
As a senior i feel like weeping.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
moe from chtown, pei writes: Big surprise ? The catholic church can make a settlement of 13 million to try to hide the actions of a slime ball like this ,but will be asking the parishioners of most parishes to pay for renovations on their church .What a bunch of hypocrites.No wonder attendance is down . I would imagine they had a fund raiser to buy him the computer.Shame Shame Shame.I wonder where they will send him ? Probably some small community where he can ruin more lives .And they ostracize children born out of wedlock , people living together ,or refuse to marry same sex or couples of different religious denominations other than two Catholics .Now I remember why my wife and I will never go back to catholic church.This just about makes want to puke.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Disgusting from PEI writes: Being raised as a Catholic I find this totally disgusting! The Church needs to do something about their Clergy Problem! Priests and Now Bishops! Seems like the Catholic Denomination is the number one favourite for wayward men!
Lahey stated, to his Church he needed “to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.” Well I hope a Prison Cell will bring you an abundance of personal renewal and I certainly hope they find one for you that doesn't allow laptops or computers!!
Imagine a Bishop distributing and selling child pornography!!
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Pie in the face from PE writes: This is why we left the catholic cult.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Steve from PE writes: Oh! didn't like my last comment. How about more like the one you printed, Gee whiz!
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
athiest from pei writes: I feel bad for those involved..but it makes me sick how many people go to church every sunday just to try and make themselves look better-MANY are trying to hide something at church....
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
pei guy from pei writes: This is why I and many others are atheists. When will the farce of religion die its deserving death......... You people that support these CHURCHES/CULTS need your head examined.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Mike from PE writes: WOW!!!!
This story is so revolting that all i can muster is WOW!!!
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Micheal Jackson from Hollywood, PEI writes: Now don't be to hard on him he was not that bad...his problem was ..he got caught..........
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
nothing surprising from PEI writes: Can't say I'm surprised.... Wonder if this will finally make the RC's realize how silly these rules for priests are? Humans are sexual beings. If you don't want MEN to have sex with a woman, and you condemn homosexuality, then the weak ones will sadly turn on children.
Entire generations of young alter boys have been screwed up by the RC rules, leading to drug abuse, suicide and sexual by the victims to their children and those of others because of the violation of the position of trust by clergy such as Bishop Lahey.
The Canadian government needs to step in and impose fundamental reforms to this religious institution, because the pope certainly won't. He has no guts and is tied to the dogma.
How many more kids will suffer before your government acts Mr. Harper? Will you become the first government to actually DO SOMETHING fundamentally different about this?
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Divorced Mom from PEI writes: I totally agree with Moe in the above comment. I took my 3 children to a catholic church and just before communion, the priest said if anybody takes birth control pills, has sex outside of marriage or children outside of marriage or is divorced, please don't take communion. I was the only person in the church who didn't go up. I felt branded. So much for feeling welcome and loved in a religion. Maybe they should look at their own before they cast stones on the people who attend their churches. No wonder they are losing membership. Hypocrites. If you believe in God you can pray to him without being brainwashed by religion and giving up your money to pay off lawsuits.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
holy crap from pei writes: what next? we need some real laws to protect our children,this is sick, what has the world come to.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Steve from PE writes: Idle hands do the bishops work. Doesn't help that those lofers haven't done a days work ever!
Religion is mind control.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Chris S from Charlottetown, PE writes: Hey Folks, it's your favorite Island athiest!
Not to put a damper on the parade, but innocent until proven guilty is very important to me as a Canadian living in a free democracy. I wouldn't want to generalize priests despite my obvious inclination to do so. Ratzinger may have signed the order requiring priests and community members to cover up sexual abuse until 10 years after the victim is 18 years old on threat of excommuniucation and the priesthood may soend more money on covering up and defending sexual predators than they do on rebuilding failing churches but that in no way means that this particular bishop commited any of the crimes brought against him.
Sorry I`m a fan of fair legal process for everyone, that includes bishops and snake oil salesmen.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Celine de Silva from Toronto, ON writes: The Catholic Church bases her mandate of priestly celibacy on the example of Jesus Christ in His own life. Catholic men are not forced to be priests in the Catholic Church. It is a choice one makes for the love of God. It is a calling or vocation. “Many are called but few are chosen” Those chosen to the priesthood, willingly and lovingly sacrifice having a wife and biological children and worldly possessions so that they can fully give themselves to God in the service of His Church and God’s people.
The duty of a husband is firstly to his wife and children. If husbands and wives are faithful and mutually love and sacrifice for each other there would not be so many divorces. The duty of a Catholic priest is to give God to the world and to take the world up to God by his life of sacrificial prayer and works. He is called to be a spiritual father of many and faithful to his spouse the Church.
Ordained priests are chosen from among men of faith who live and intend to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Called to consecrate themselves for life, with an undivided and joyous heart to God and his ministry, they sacrifice that which is good, choosing celibacy as a sign of new life to serve God’s people. There is a direct connection that exists between Christ and the priest. A priest’s chaste celibate love for the church is a sign of Christ’s presence to the faithful. He makes Christ present through his sacramental ministry at the altar and in the confessional and is acting, not simply in the name of Christ, but in the person of Christ…he is “another Christ”, whose total gift of self to the church as spouse, is an integral part of his priestly life making him a spiritual father to countless souls.
These priests and now this bishop, had they been faithful to their priestly calling, by a steadfast life of prayer, sacrifice and obedience to magisterium of the Church and for the love of God and souls they would not have thrown away the gift of their Priesthood causing scandal and shame to us Catholics. This scandal will not shake my faith in the Catholic Church.
Again, no man is forced to become a Priest in the Catholic Church.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Old Tory from P.E.I. writes: Until he is tried in court and convicted, this is just propaganda by the fantical left. There is an agenda, within the liberal media, to discredit and spread hate against the Roman Catholic Church.
Besides, what in hell is child porn, can anyone, including the goofs at the Ottawa airport , define it categorically. I think not.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Old Tory from P.E.I. writes: To Divorced Mom from PEI, while I agree that this recent revelation of clerical behaviour, if true, is disturbing, it is hardly grounds to lose your faith or deprive your children of a good Catholic upbringing. Also, I have been a practicing Roman Catholic for over 50 years and have never heard a priest announce off the altar that anyone taking birth control pills; anyone having sex outside marriage' any one who had children outside marriage or anyone who is divorced can't go to holy communion. I don't believe that ever happened, you dreamed that in a sinful moment of guilt.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Divorced Mom from PEI writes: To Old Tory...it was at the Richmond Catholic Church and I am not lying or dreaming it up. The priest there is well known for his conservative ways and many of my friends do not go to that church because of him. My children are all catholic but we will not attend services where people are treated this way by priests. There are a lot of great priests out there, this was a very bad experience that I had but trust me, it is true.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
Aunty Horsefeathers from pei writes: Celine de Silva, you're espousing a lot of poppycock and horsefeathers. It's the same kind of ethereal nonsense that has helped to put the wrong kind of people in positions of church leadership.
Nothing surprising is spot on. Men (or I happen to believe also women) who aspire to become priests are sexually functioning beings like the rest of society. Marriage is a normal healthy state. Aside from the companionship, love, understanding, and numerous other benefits it brings, it allows men and women to channel their sexual energies in a healthy fashion.
The RC ruling that priests must not marry and hence remain celibate promotes a lifestyle that the majority of society would find to be unhealthy and may I say, unnatural. It discourages the right kind of people from entering the priesthood and regrettably, attracts some of the wrong kind.
By the way, I think this is the proper kind of discussion to have rather than the specifics of this particular priest, who as has been pointed out, has not had his day in court yet.
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
To Old Tory from Charlottetown, PEI writes: I'm afraid you are latching the barn door after the horse has bolted.
Child pornography has now been defined by the House of Commons for a criminal statute.
Enough cases have been discovered and tried respecting internet child pornography that no one can plead lack of knowledge on the subject.
On the basis of what has been disclosed the bishop has a substantial case to meet.
Isn't the question, as put by posters here in various ways, is how long can the church tolerate the continuing disgrace of its clergy?
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
1
