Peterborough Bishop Miehm releases statement regarding
charges laid against priest
Police have
arrested and charged a Peterborough priest with the alleged sexual assault and
sexual interference of a person under the age of 16.
In a media release issued on Wednesday, July
26, police said investigators with the Peterborough Police Service’s Sexual
Offences Unit charged Father Neil Pereira with sexual assault and sexual
interference.
Sexual Interference is when a person, for a
sexual purpose, touches, directly or indirectly, a part of the body or with an
object, any part of the body of a person under the age of 16 years.
“The accused is an ordained Priest with the
Catholic Church and has been working in the City of Peterborough since late
2022,” say police. “Investigators are in contact with the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Peterborough, who are co-operating with Investigators.”
While police do not normally release the names
of the accused, police say Pereira’s identity is “being released as the nature
of the offences leads us to concerns there may be other victims.”
The accused will appear in court on Aug. 8.
Police say they are not releasing any more
information about this case as it is now before the courts.
Soon after the police release was issued, Bishop
Daniel Miehm, with Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, released a
statement.
Here is Bishop Miehm's statement
verbatim:
“The Peterborough Police Services
charged Father Neil Pereira today with sexual interference and sexual assault
of a minor. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough received an allegation
in June of sexual and professional misconduct involving Fr. Neil Pereira. The
allegation was immediately reported to the Children’s Aid Society and the
Peterborough Police Services. Fr. Pereira was removed from pastoral ministry
upon receipt of the allegation. Fr. Pereira is a priest from the Archdiocese of
Toronto on loan for campus ministry in the Diocese of Peterborough. The
officials of the Archdiocese of Toronto have been kept informed by the Diocese
of Peterborough throughout this process, including the laying of criminal
charges today.
All allegations of abuse and/or
misconduct are addressed seriously and thoroughly in accordance with the
Diocesan policy. No further statement will be released at this time, as this
matter is now before the Courts. Please pray for all those who are impacted by
this difficult situation."
In Peterborough, Pereira was appointed as the
campus minister for Trent University and Fleming College in 2022 through
Peterborough Campus Ministry. On its website, Pereira is listed as
director. The mission of Peterborough Campus Ministry is to accompany students
of Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming College into a personal and
life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ, according to the group's website.
"On behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Peterborough (Ontario), we support and collaborate with the Catholic Council
of Trent and Fleming College Catholics, the respective registered student
associations on both campuses," reads the site.
According to the Archdiocese of Toronto's
Facebook page, Father Pereira was ordained on June 27, 2020.
"Newly ordained Fr. Neil Pereira was born
in Manama, Bahrain, grew up in Mumbai, India, and eventually immigrated to
Canada," reads a Facebook post from July 1, 2020.
According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Peterborough’s website Pereira served as associate pastor at St. Isaac Jogues
Parish in Pickering as well.
Anyone with additional information is asked by police to contact Detective Const. Jacob Donnelly at extension 705-876-1122 ext. 335, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Published on July 26, 2023
