Bathurst diocese asks Vatican to defrock disgraced priest

The diocese of Bathurst, N.B., has asked the Vatican to strip a priest, who was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison for 22 sex-related offences, of his status.

The laicization would limit retired priest Levi Noel to being a lay person within the church, Father Wesley Wade said Saturday, speaking on behalf of the diocese.

The request is in the hands of officials in Rome, he said.

Meanwhile, the diocese is offering an apology to Noel's victims, said Wade.

Noel, 84, pleaded guilty to 22 charges, including gross indecency and indecent assault.

The charges related to incidents that occurred between 1958 and 1981, while Noel was a priest in northeastern New Brunswick.

'It's very sad that these situations happen, and we are very sorry and we apologize again to all the victims and their families.' —Father Wesley Wade, diocese of Bathurst

The 18 victims were boys between the ages of eight and 16 at the time of the abuse, the court heard.

"It's very sad when we see people of authority, especially in the church, people who are supposed to be men of God, to abuse children," Wade said.

"And these situations are unacceptable in our church, in our society. And our concern now is to avoid these situations as much as we can."

Civil action possible

Wade's comments come on the heels of a news conference held by some of Noel's victims, who voluntarily allowed their names to be made public despite a publication ban.

The men, who have not ruled out the possibility of a lawsuit against the diocese, called on officials to implement changes to prevent further abuse and to do more to help victims.

"In all dioceses of Canada and throughout the Western world I would say, we've got committees in place to help us focus — [what] can we do to avoid these situations?" said Wade.

"So that's what we do in our diocese. We have been doing that for 10 to 15 years with a committee — to be in a situation of security for our children on all church premises.

"It's very sad that these situations happen, and we are very sorry and we apologize again to all the victims and their families."

The Bishop of Bathurst, Msgr. Valéry Vienneau, issued an apology to the victims last October, when Noel had pleaded guilty to 18 of the charges. Noel pleaded guilty to four additional charges this week after four more victims came forward.

"I want to express my profound and sincere regret to all victims and to members of their family for the sexual abuses that they suffered on the part of Father Levi Noel," Vienneau had said.

"We acknowledge that such behaviour on the part of a priest is unacceptable and intolerable.

"We regret profoundly that Father Levi Noel has abused the trust and innocence of young boys. On behalf of the Catholic Church of Bathurst, I want to present the victims our most sincere apologies."

On recommendation of the diocesan committee responsible for the prevention of sexual abuse, the bishop also offered counselling services to the victims.

Noel worked on New Brunswick's Acadian Peninsula for about 30 years but left the diocese decades ago.

The RCMP investigation into allegations against him began in May 2008 after one person spoke out.