Two Men Suing N.S. Church for Alleged Abuse by Priest

By: John Lewandowski, The Canadian Press, Globe and Mail

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Halifax -- Two men who allege they were sexually abused by a Roman Catholic priest in a small Nova Scotia parish more than 50 years ago are suing the church.

Ken Boudreau and Raymond Boudreau, who are not related, allege they were abused by Father Adolphe LeBlanc, who died more than 20 years ago.

Details of their lawsuits filed with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court by the law firm LeDroit Beckett, based in London, Ont., were released yesterday at a news conference.

Lawyer Paul LeDroit contends that the abuse occurred in a small parish in the Yarmouth area in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known to church officials at the time.

Mr. LeDroit's firm says there is a third unnamed complainant, but a statement of claim has not been filed in that case.

The Archdiocese of Halifax and the Diocese of Yarmouth did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claims.

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