Retired Quebec judge says he believes sexual abuse allegations against former Nunavut priest

A retired Quebec Superior Court judge, in a report commissioned by the Canadian Oblates, says he believes allegations made against former Nunavut priest Johannes Rivoire of sexually abusing children in the territory are true. 

The report, written by Andre Denis, also suggests the Catholic church was not aware of the allegations made against Rivoire at the time because the RCMP didn't notify them. 

"Rivoire did not tell the whole truth to his superiors, to his confrères, to the Inuit for whom he had pastoral responsibility, and he himself denies a reality that has nevertheless been demonstrated," Denis wrote in a 57-page report released Tuesday. 

Denis's report is not a legal finding of guilt. His investigation makes conclusions based on a "preponderance of evidence," and not "proof beyond a reasonable doubt."

Rivoire, an Oblate priest from France, has long faced allegations he sexually abused children in Nunavut in the 1960s and 1970s. He spent more than 30 years working as a priest in the territory, mostly in Arviat and Naujaat. 

Rivoire, who is 92 and lives in Lyon, France, and his lawyer have denied all of the allegations against him. CBC has reached out to Rivoire's lawyer about the report, but has not received a response. 

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, OMI Lacombe Canada and the Oblates of the Province of France hired Denis to investigate how past allegations against Rivoire were addressed within the congregation. 

"The scandal for the plaintiffs is that Joannès Rivoire remains a religious despite all he has done. This is a reality the victims do not accept," Denis wrote. 

Denis travelled to France, Italy and Canada, including Nunavut, where he interviewed some of Rivoire's alleged victims. 

He also met at length with Rivoire, who denied the allegations but claimed he had a consenting sexual relationship with a woman in the territory. 

Denis also concluded the Catholic church didn't try to help him escape the Canadian justice system. 

Three charges of sexual abuse were laid against Rivoire in 1998. They were stayed in 2017 after the Crown decided there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. 

A new charge was brought forward in 2022 and an arrest warrant was issued for Rivoire. 

Days before the first complaint was filed with the RCMP in 1993, Rivoire fled Canada for France.