Five Clerics of Saint-Viateur in Quebec face sex abuse charges

Five members of the Clerics of Saint-Viateur in Quebec have been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of boys over three decades.

The alleged crimes took place between 1961 and 1989 while the men were working as instructors at religious educational institutions in the Montérégie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspé and Laurentians regions of the province, according to Quebec provincial police.

The five men, between the ages of 78 and 88, were arrested June 23 at the congregation’s Residence Saint-Viateur in Joliette, Que.. They face more than 30 charges in total, including gross indecency, sexual assault and indecent assault.

Police said 15 alleged victims have come forward.

The Clerics of Saint-Viateur would not comment on the charges but said it is co-operating with police in the investigation.

The Clerics of St. Viator congregation is already involved in a class action lawsuit that was filed in 2017 and involves alleged sexual abuse dating back to the 1930s.