05062021 May 6 2021

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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS

Local News Weekly

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Vol. 25, Issue 35, May 6, 2021

Fraud charges against two priests are withdrawn

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harges of fraud against two priests in the diocese of Hearst-Moosonee and their parish secretaries were dropped by the Crown on Tuesday, April 13th. On July 9, 2020, members of the James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) concluded a lengthy investigation involving numerous unauthorized money transactions at two churches. The investigation began in October of 2018 when a member of the Diocese reported unauthorized transactions at a church on Cedar Street in Kapuskasing and at a church on 5th Street in Cochrane. An internal audit was completed and between the two churches, over $200,000 was illegally used in numerous unauthorized transactions. Subsequently four people were arrested and charged. Priest Hervé Sauvé, retired parish priest Rémi Lessard and their secretaries were charged with fraud over $ 5,000 by the Ontario Provincial Police. During a hearing at the Cochrane courthouse on April 13th, the lawyer representing the accused, Mr. Pierre Dumais, said he had reviewed the disclosure of evidence from top to bottom with the Crown. There is no reasonable prospect of conviction, he told the court. Judge Michel Labelle, who has presided

over this case since the start of the proceedings, has therefore indicated his intention to withdraw the charges against Hervé Sauvé, Rémi Lessard, Elizabeth McInnis and Hélène Gauthier. “We've been living this injustice for months and I always felt in my heart that I had nothing to blame myself for.” said :Hervé Sauvé, priest He calls the fraud charges a "misunderstanding" and insists the money was sent to an orphanage in the Caribbean, not into his own pockets. In July 2020 , the Ontario Provincial Police alleged that unauthorized transactions had taken place in St. Patrick's parishes of Kapuskasing and The Transfiguration of Cochrane. Cumulative, these amounted to more than $ 200,000, according to the PPO. The withdrawal of these accusations shows that there was nothing to reproach the diocese in the administration of a mission to help an orphanage in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, according to the apostolic administrator of the diocese, Bishop Terrence Prendergast. "There might have been some accounting issues, how it was arranged, but no one took advantage of this money except the poor in the third world," he says. The diocese of Hearst-Moosonee does not Luhtasaari yetPhoto have Kari a bishop following the resignation of Bishop Mgr Robert Bourgon last November.

It is the Archbishop Emeritus Mgr Terrence Prendergast who ensures the apostolic administration while awaiting the imminent appointment of a new bishop. “It is a great joy for us! We are very happy that the Crown has decided that there are no reasons for the [accusations] of fraud said Bishop Terrence Prendergast, apostolic administrator of the diocese of Hearst-Moosonee.

COVID-19 outbreak declared at Health Sciences North Long Term Forecast Thursday High 8 Low -2 Friday High 6 Low -1 Saturday High 5 Low -3 Sunday High 7 Low 0 Monday High 6 Low 0 Tuesday High 11 Low 2

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ublic Health Sudbury & Districts has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Health Sciences North’s Ramsey Lake Health Centre affecting the sixth floor, south tower. Public Health is actively working with the hospital to investigate the outbreak and ensure patients and staff are protected. Public Health or Health Sciences North will

directly contact anyone identified as a close contact and provide further direction. “The need for everyone to monitor and screen for COVID-19 symptoms daily and to stay home when ill is critical in limiting the spread of the virus. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, please take it seriously, and get tested,” said Stacey

Laforest, Director, Health Protection Division, Public Health Sudbury & Districts. The protection of our most vulnerable populations and health care system is of the utmost importance. Everyone is urged to continue following public health measures to protect others and stop the spread of COVID-19.

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05062021 May 6 2021 by The Chapleau Express - Issuu