The issue of clergy sexual abuse of minors and the institutional Church's handling of such has been a matter of great public interest.

November 13, 2006

The issue of clergy sexual abuse of minors and the institutional Church's handling of such has been a matter of great public interest. Just this past year two Diocese of London priests, Father Charles Sylvestre (3 years) and Father Konstanty Prsybylski (5 years) have been sentenced to penitentiary terms for sexual crimes against young persons.

The impact of the abuse on the victims, the depravity of the perpetrators and the involvement of Church officials all prove difficult to comprehend. Understanding this problem though is essential to combating it.

Lionsgate Films has produced a documentary entitled Deliver Us From Evil, which through interviews with a perpetrator priest, the victims and their families as well as Church officials sheds light onto this troubling issue.

The film documents through first hand interviews, the sexual predation of Father Oliver O'Grady who was a priest of the Diocese of Stockton, California from mid 1970 to the mid 1990's. Father Ollie molested both boys and girls alike. The producer was able to interview Father Ollie who after serving nine years in prison now resides in his native Ireland. The film also contains excerpts of videotaped depositions of Church officials who clearly were aware of Father Ollie's crimes but suppressed the information, thwarted investigations and transferred him onto new parishes and new victims. The similarities with the recent case of Father Charles Sylvestre are frightening.

The London premiere of this film is scheduled for Friday November 17, 2006 at Rainbow Cinema - Galleria at 6:30 pm.

Ledroit Beckett Litigation Lawyers have been actively involved in working with victims of sexual abuse, in particular victims of clergy sexual abuse.
It believes that the viewing of this film is important to all members of the community in raising the awareness of the prevalence and devastation of sexual abuse by trusted authority figures. Accordingly we have funded a free public viewing of this film's London début, in the hope of bringing greater understanding of the problem and further motivation to effectively address it.

The film will be preceded by a brief introduction. We have arranged for Dr. Alan Leschid of the University of Western Ontario to speak on the clinical impact of the abuse upon the victims. Dr. Leschid participated in the psychological assessment of many of the victims of Father Sylvestre. Also present will be Carol Mieras, a victim of Father Sylvestre who will speak to the personal impact of the abuse. Many victims, their families and personnel from local support agencies will also be in attendance.
Bishop Fabbro and clergy have also been invited.