Civil case filed against former Kamloops priest, bishop

A sexual abuse case from the Diocese of Kamloops dating back to the 1970s is before the B.C. Supreme Court in a civil case this week.

A priest who at the time was serving at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Kamloops has been accused of a series of sexual assaults. A former elementary school teacher in the parish said she was in her 20s when she sought counselling from Father Erlindo Molon after the death of her father. She said she was sexually exploited by him in 1976 and 1977.

According to reports, the former teacher filed a lawsuit, alleging then-Bishop of Kamloops Adam Exner did not do enough to stop the assaults when she disclosed the facts to him in 1977.

Exner, who later became the Archbishop of Vancouver, is now retired and 90 years old. In court documents, the retired archbishop said he discussed the woman's relationship with Molon but she never told him about any sexual assaults. 

He said he told Molon to leave the diocese in 1977 after he was found to be “promiscuous” and “a playboy.” The priest was recalled to his home diocese of Palo in the Philippines.

Reports say Molon failed to obey that recall and continued to act as a pastor in Kamloops for several months. The former teacher has said the abuse continued in that time. The bishop has argued that he is not liable for the priest’s unauthorized actions after the man was dismissed.

Molon, who is now in his late 80s and living in a long-term care facility, is reportedly incapable of managing his affairs and is represented by the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee. A statement of defence denies any sexual contact with the former teacher, saying if it did happen, it was consensual.

The former teacher’s lawsuit says as a result of the assaults, she suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, and depression.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.