The Ottawa Citizen
By Meghan Hurley, OTTAWA CITIZEN
OTTAWA — A 72-year-old Pembroke priest and former police chaplain faces charges in an historical sexual assault of a boy.
The investigation began in British Columbia in March 2013 before it was turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police in June.
The charges were laid after the victim made a complaint to police about an alleged sexual assault in 1985.
Police arrested Father Howard Chabot on Monday and charged him with sexual assault and gross indecency. Chabot was released from custody on a promise to appear in court on Sept. 3.
Chabot was a priest at Holy Name Parish in Pembroke when the alleged incident occurred, but he had also worked as a chaplain with the police force for 20 years.
David Hawkins, the Pembroke police chief before the force disbanded earlier this month, said Wednesday he hadn’t heard about the charges.
Hawkins described Chabot as an “honourable man” who retired as the force’s chaplain several years ago because of health problems.
Hawkins said Chabot’s main responsibility was to help police notify families in Pembroke when a relative died.
“He was certainly always a gentleman and very supportive of the police,” Hawkins said. “I speak very highly of him.”
Bruce Pappin, a spokesman for the Pembroke diocese, said Chabot was ordained as a priest in 1968. Chabot retired in 2005 from Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Pembroke because of heart problems.
The diocese said they will continue to co-operate with police and will help the victim through the healing process.
“The Diocese of Pembroke prays that the truth concerning this matter may be brought to light and extends support to any parties concerned in this case,” Bishop Michael Mulhall said in a statement.
Chabot’s arrest marked the fourth time in recent history a priest in the Pembroke diocese faces historical sexual assault charges.
Monsignor Robert Borne was handed a nine-month conditional sentence last year for indecently assaulting a local teen more than 30 years ago.
Daniel Miller, a retired Ottawa Valley priest, was charged with three counts each of gross indecency and indecent assault for offences that occurred between 1970 and 1980.
The alleged victims in that case were preteen boys and one man.
In January 2008, Msgr. Bernard Prince was found guilty of molesting 13 young boys between 1964 and 1984. The prominent priest had previously been given a Vatican post.
Even before the latest sexual assault charges, the Pembroke diocese had implemented a protocol for sexual abuse cases involving minors.
Listed under popular items on the Pembroke diocese website, the protocol calls the sexual assault of a child a “terrible crime” and “scandalous.”
A priest appointed by the diocese was put in charge of taking complaints of sexual assault involving children. The priest is obligated to report allegations that a child was sexually assaulted to the police. When an adult brings forward allegations of sexual assault, the priest will tell the victim to contact the police. If the adult doesn’t want a criminal investigation, the diocese will undertake their own by interviewing the victim and taking a formal statement.
The diocese will also provide counselling or spiritual guidance to the victims.
“The Diocesan Committee will attempt to immediately assess the situation and implement measures to minimize the trauma that inevitably flows from such a regrettable and scandalous incident,” the protocol states.
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Retired priest in Pembroke, Ontario faces sex assault charges
Sun News
1:27 pm, July 30th, 2013
The alleged assault happened in 1985 while Howard Chabot was serving at Holy Name Parish in Pembroke, ON.
Chabot is charged with one count each of sexual assault and gross indecency.
“The Diocese of Pembroke prays that the truth concerning this matter may be brought to light and extends support to any parties concerned in this case,” the Bishop of Pembroke, the Most Reverend Michael Mulhall, said in a statement.
The diocese said it is co-operating with police “and will encourage and support the healing process for all parties concerned following the resolution of the case.”
Chabot, of Arnprior, ON, was ordained in 1968 and retired from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke in 2005 due to coronary artery disease.
“There is some sadness, but it is different than quitting,” Chabot told QMI Agency in 2005. “There is contentment that I am leaving a parish happy. Departure is difficult, but I have a sense that I’m not checking out just yet.”
Over his 37-year career, Chabot served parishioners in Westmeath, La Passe, Braeside, and Sheenboro.
Chabot also worked as a youth probation officer, and chaplain for the Pembroke Jail and the Pembroke Police Service.
Chabot was released on a promise to appear and will be in Pembroke court Sept. 3.
Anyone with any information can call OPP Det.-Const. Marc Gauvin at 613-735-0188 or 1-888-310-1122, or contact Crime Stoppers.
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Retired Pembroke priest charged with sexual assault
The Pembroke Observer
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 2:12:29 EDT PM
A retired Catholic priest from the Diocese of Pembroke has been charged in relation to incident alleged to have occurred in 1985.
Father Howard Chabot was arrested July 29, 2013 and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of gross indecency. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Upper Ottawa Valley Crime Unit, which began after a complainant came forward.
Chabot was serving at Holy Name Parish in Pembroke at the time of the alleged incident. He was ordained in 1968 and is now retired because of poor health, according to a release issued by the diocese on Monday.
“The Diocese of Pembroke prays that the truth concerning this matter may be brought to light and extends support to any parties concerned in this case,” the Most Reverend Michael Mulhall, the Bishop of Pembroke said in the release.
The Diocese of Pembroke has indicated it will continue to offer its complete co-operation with civil officials as the process unfolds and will encourage and support the healing process for all parties concerned following the resolution of the case.
Chabot was released on a promise to appear and office-in-charge undertaking. His next court appearance is Sept. 3, 2013 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke.
Police are requesting anyone with any information about this investigation to call Detective Constable Marc Gauvin at 613-735-0188 or 1-888-310-1122, or to contact Crime Stoppers.
Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist
Twitter: @TPeplinskieOBS
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Retired priest in Pembroke faces sex assault charges
The Ottawa Sun
First posted: | Updated: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 02:47 PM EDT
The incident allegedly took place in 1985 when Father Howard Chabot was serving at Holy Name Parish in Pembroke. Chabot is charged with one count each of sexual assault and gross indecency.
“The Diocese of Pembroke prays that the truth concerning this matter may be brought to light and extends support to any parties concerned in this case,” The Bishop of Pembroke, the Most Reverend Michael Mulhall said in a statement. The Diocese is cooperating with police “and will encourage and support the healing process for all parties concerned following the resolution of the case.”
Chabot, of Arnprior, was ordained in 1968 and retired from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke in 2005 due to coronary artery disease.
“There is some sadness, but it is different than quitting,” Chabot told QMI Agency in 2005. “There is contentment that I am leaving a parish happy. Departure is difficult, but I have a sense that I’m not checking out just yet.”
Over his 37-year career, Chabot served parishioners in Westmeath, La Passe, Braeside, and Sheenboro.
Chabot also worked as a youth probation officer, and chaplain for the Pembroke Jail and the Pembroke Police Service.
Chabot was released on a promise to appear and will be in Pembroke court Sept. 3.
Anyone with any information can call OPP Det.-Const. Marc Gauvin at 613-735-0188 or 1-888-310-1122, or contact Crime Stoppers.
kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca
@ottawasunkroche
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Eastern Ontario priest faces sex charges in 1985 incident
Rev. Howard Chabot is a retired priest in the Roman Catholic diocese of Pembroke
Posted: Jul 30, 2013 10:34 AM ET
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2013 12:57 PM ET
A Pembroke, Ont., priest faces two charges including sexual assault in connection with an incident in 1985.
Ontario Provincial Police said a complainant came forward in regard to the incident in Pembroke 28 years ago.
Rev. Howard Chabot, a retired Catholic church priest, was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of gross indecency.
He was released with a promise to appear in Pembroke court on Sept. 3.
Police want anyone with information about this investigation to call Det.-Const. Marc Gauvin at 613-735-0188 or 1-888-310-1122.