WARNING: This article contains information about allegations of sexual abuse.

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving accusations that a former Catholic priest on Vancouver Island sexually abused a 10-year-old girl during confession decades ago.

The woman, now 57 and whose identity is protected, filed a notice of civil claim in 2020 against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria, in B.C. Supreme Court. She alleges that Father Gerhard Hartmann, who has since died, used his position as an authority figure to take advantage of her when she was a parishioner at St. Peter乌鸦传媒檚 Roman Catholic Church at Nanaimo in 1976.

Details of the settlement were not available, but the plaintiff and her lawyer Robert Talach told the News Bulletin the matter was settled to everyone乌鸦传媒檚 satisfaction.

Beginning in 1976, Hartmann is alleged to have, 乌鸦传媒渙ver at least the next year,乌鸦传媒� kissed her, molested her and engaged 乌鸦传媒渋n other sexual activities乌鸦传媒� numerous times, her notice alleges, and the incidents occurred in the church 乌鸦传媒渨ithin the context of the sacrament of reconciliation, otherwise known as the confessional.乌鸦传媒� Talach said the priest was transferred to Port Hardy in June 1979.

The notice also alleges that when the woman notified the diocese early in 2000, the claim states she was met with a 乌鸦传媒渄ismissive乌鸦传媒� response and no action was taken. The diocese failed in its 乌鸦传媒渄uty of care to her and were thereby negligent,乌鸦传媒� the notice claims.

In its legal response, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria acknowledged it ordained Hartmann and that he did serve as a priest in its jurisdiction, but in response to the sexual abuse claims, 乌鸦传媒渁ny such acts were unauthorized, outside the scope of his employment, unrelated to any conduct authorized and without any knowledge by the diocese.乌鸦传媒�

The complainant sought unspecified damages for mental distress and pain and suffering. She told the News Bulletin the abuse has impacted her life negatively. She said she had a successful career until the trauma began affecting her and while she was raised Catholic, she has lost faith.

乌鸦传媒淚 have struggled with addiction and I have fallen into despair until I have become suicidal 乌鸦传媒� I think that there are many other victims of trauma who can relate to that and I don乌鸦传媒檛 believe I乌鸦传媒檓 alone, [that] I was the only one who was assaulted乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮�媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think his first acts happened in the confession. You do that after you have become emboldened, after you believe that you can get away with it. And I really want to reach out to others. That乌鸦传媒檚 my whole purpose in speaking.乌鸦传媒�

There is 乌鸦传媒渁n overwhelming amount of sexual abuse in the Catholic church乌鸦传媒� that needs to be addressed, said the woman.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a lifelong burden that someone carries after they乌鸦传媒檝e been sexually assaulted,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd particularly, if you乌鸦传媒檙e a believing Catholic, and you乌鸦传媒檙e sexually assaulted by your priest, that is an act of physical assault. It is an act of mental assault, and it乌鸦传媒檚 a spiritual assault. And it affects every aspect of the Catholic parish member乌鸦传媒檚 life.乌鸦传媒�

In a statement from the diocese, Bishop Gary Gordon stated the news was 乌鸦传媒渦ndoubtedly distressing for victim-survivors of sexual abuse,乌鸦传媒� whom the church wants to assure of its support.

乌鸦传媒淭he decision to come forward and report sexual abuse by clergy, religious, employees, or volunteers may be difficult and often requires considerable courage,乌鸦传媒� he said.

He said the diocese has put in place an independent reporting process managed by psychologists, counsellors, and social workers, has a 乌鸦传媒渞esponsible ministry program乌鸦传媒� to screen all members of the clergy, volunteers and employees, and has protocols to ensure safe environments for children and others who are vulnerable.

Should victims wish to involve the church in their healing plans, it will offer pastoral support and healing resources for the person and their family, he said.

Gordon also said the church prays that those who suffered sexual abuse and their families will find peace and healing from past wrongs.

The incidents happened more than 40 years ago and Talach said he and his client are 乌鸦传媒渘ot about to slam the present administration,乌鸦传媒� but also said there needs to be change.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e building a reactive model to this, which I think displays a lack of understanding that this is an ongoing threat in the church,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭he role and power and dynamics and 乌鸦传媒� employment requirements of a priest are identical today as they were when [his client] and hundreds of other people were abused in past decades. I don乌鸦传媒檛 know what has magically made the risk disappear.乌鸦传媒�

None of the allegations in the lawsuit were proven in court.

Talach said his client wants other potential victims to know they are not alone and they can reach out to her discreetly at hartmanntruth@gmail.com.

To access the diocese乌鸦传媒檚 reporting agency, visit .

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