As a survivor of child sexual abuse by Father Barry Glendinning of the Diocese of London, Ontario I urge the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to support the resignation of Bishop Robert Finn from the Kansas City – St. Joseph Diocese.  

As a 10 year old alter server in London Ontario, Canada I was introduced to Fr. Glendinning. Glendinning sexually abused me, my siblings as well as a number of other children. The abuse lasted for a period of five years; the impact of Fr. Glendinning’s abuse has been life long. I have been plagued with addictions, and numerous other challenges, in no small part as result of the inaction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London. Fr. Glendinning was criminally charged and convicted, after which he was sent for treatment and received support from the Diocese. My family and the other survivors received no support and were virtually ignored until we successfully sued the Diocese of London in 1998. My family was forced to endure 7 years of litigation during which time I was sued by the Diocese of London. My family was traumatized and humiliated by this process. Survivors and their families must not be subject to these hardships. It is time for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to work collaboratively with American and International Bishops to address these issues, implement systemic change and place the burden on those who are responsible for the abuses.  johnswales2009@live.com

This week the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is having their annual meeting and will be discussing how they can support the victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. It would be a significant initiative on the CCCB’s part to join this international call demanding the resignation of Bishop Finn.  

In September of 2012, a judge found Bishop Robert Finn guilty on one misdemeanor charge after he failed to report a priest who had taken or possessed hundreds of pornographic pictures of young girls. Even though Finn was found guilty in a court of law, he remains the Bishop of the Kansas City – St. Joseph Diocese. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops should protect children and call for Finn's resignation. Bishop Finn should immediately resign and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops should support his resignation. Feel free to contact me at johnswales2009@live.com