Inuits plead for priest’s return to Canada in excess of abuse claims
LYON, France — A priest accused of sexually abusing Inuit young children when he missioned in their Canadian Arctic neighborhood has told alleged victims and relations who traveled to France to confront him that he will not go back to Canada to be questioned.
The 10-member Inuit delegation achieved this week with the Rev. Joannes Rivoire, hoping to persuade the 92-12 months-previous to return with them to Canada, in which they want him to confront justice. Canadian law enforcement are also trying to find his arrest on a sexual assault cost.
But the Oblate priest refused and denied wrongdoing, delegation members explained Thursday at a news meeting in Lyon, the southeastern French town the place Rivoire lives in a care dwelling.
The daughter of just one of the priest’s late alleged victims explained the meeting as like coming deal with-to-experience with “the monster.”
Tanya Tungilik said she blames the priest for her father’s death. She mentioned her father also suffered from alcoholism and recurrent nightmares.
“He has no regret,” she reported of Wednesday’s assembly with Rivoire. “I left. I did not want to listen to his lies.”
France ordinarily does not extradite its citizens – a coverage reiterated by the French Justice Ministry in Paris when the Inuit delegation also traveled there for a conference this week.
At the Lyon information conference, the delegation and their lawyer urged French authorities to make an exception in this scenario. The Canadian federal government has formerly explained that it, as well, has asked France to extradite Rivoire.
The delegation booked an more seat for their planned return to Canada, hoping that the priest would fly back again with them.
The group alleges that the priest abused 50-60 little ones when he was stationed in their group from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The priest has previously denied allegations of abuse.
A Lyon-primarily based attorney for the priest did not straight away respond Thursday to an Associated Push telephone concept trying to get remark and the lawyer’s office stated he was in court for another make any difference.
The Inuit delegation also fulfilled in Lyon with the Rev. Vincent Gruber, a agent of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The delegation said Gruber instructed them that he has started off a technique to expel Rivoire from the church.
Canadian authorities issued an preliminary arrest warrant for the priest in 1998 on accusations of several counts of sexual abuse.
Canadian police mentioned Thursday, in response to queries from AP, that they also received a complaint in 2021 “of sexual assaults that occurred around 47 many years back involving one woman victim.”
Police claimed that pursuing an investigation, Rivoire was then billed with sexual assault in February this year and a Canada-wide warrant issued for his arrest.
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AP journalist John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, contributed.
LYON, France — A priest accused of sexually abusing Inuit young children when he missioned in their Canadian Arctic neighborhood has told alleged victims and relations who traveled to France to confront him that he will not go back to Canada to be questioned.
The 10-member Inuit delegation achieved this week with the Rev. Joannes Rivoire, hoping to persuade the 92-12 months-previous to return with them to Canada, in which they want him to confront justice. Canadian law enforcement are also trying to find his arrest on a sexual assault cost.
But the Oblate priest refused and denied wrongdoing, delegation members explained Thursday at a news meeting in Lyon, the southeastern French town the place Rivoire lives in a care dwelling.
The daughter of just one of the priest’s late alleged victims explained the meeting as like coming deal with-to-experience with “the monster.”
Tanya Tungilik said she blames the priest for her father’s death. She mentioned her father also suffered from alcoholism and recurrent nightmares.
“He has no regret,” she reported of Wednesday’s assembly with Rivoire. “I left. I did not want to listen to his lies.”
France ordinarily does not extradite its citizens – a coverage reiterated by the French Justice Ministry in Paris when the Inuit delegation also traveled there for a conference this week.
At the Lyon information conference, the delegation and their lawyer urged French authorities to make an exception in this scenario. The Canadian federal government has formerly explained that it, as well, has asked France to extradite Rivoire.
The delegation booked an more seat for their planned return to Canada, hoping that the priest would fly back again with them.
The group alleges that the priest abused 50-60 little ones when he was stationed in their group from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The priest has previously denied allegations of abuse.
A Lyon-primarily based attorney for the priest did not straight away respond Thursday to an Associated Push telephone concept trying to get remark and the lawyer’s office stated he was in court for another make any difference.
The Inuit delegation also fulfilled in Lyon with the Rev. Vincent Gruber, a agent of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The delegation said Gruber instructed them that he has started off a technique to expel Rivoire from the church.
Canadian authorities issued an preliminary arrest warrant for the priest in 1998 on accusations of several counts of sexual abuse.
Canadian police mentioned Thursday, in response to queries from AP, that they also received a complaint in 2021 “of sexual assaults that occurred around 47 many years back involving one woman victim.”
Police claimed that pursuing an investigation, Rivoire was then billed with sexual assault in February this year and a Canada-wide warrant issued for his arrest.
———
AP journalist John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, contributed.