Priest returns to schools after sex-related charges withdrawn; parents unhappy

Parents of students enrolled in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) voiced concerns Tuesday night about a priest working in local schools after sex-related charges stemming from an alleged incident in 2023 were withdrawn earlier this year.

Nov. 5 at St. Peter’s Church on Amelia Street in Barrie. The meeting, held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, was tense at times as parents pressured Frances Bagley, the school board’s director of education, and Father Larry Leger, a priest in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Answers to your questions.

About 50 people, including parents and other school officials, attended the meeting.

Father Neil Pereira, 34, was arrested by Peterborough police on July 26, 2023, and charged with sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference with a minor. The charges were later withdrawn.

According to the Criminal Code, sexual interference is when a person directly or indirectly touches a part of the body or an object of a person under the age of 16 for sexual purposes.

Pereira had been employed by the city of Peterborough since late 2022 and is currently on loan to work at local SMCDSB schools.

According to a July 26, 2023 statement from the Rev. Bishop Daniel Miehm of the Diocese of Peterborough, the diocese “received an allegation of sexual and professional misconduct in June involving Fr. Neil Pereira. The allegation was immediately reported to the Children’s Aid Society and the Peterborough Police Service.” Upon receipt of the allegation, Fr. Pereira was suspended from pastoral ministry.”

A few months later, in a joint statement from the Diocese of Peterborough and the Archdiocese of Toronto dated March 12, 2024, the two organizations stated: “The Crown Prosecution Service recently withdrew all charges against Fr. Pereira.

“Now that the charges have been withdrawn and the criminal investigation and process have been completed, the Archdiocese of Toronto will conduct its ecclesiastical investigation in accordance with its policy,” the statement said.

The Diocese of Peterborough and the Archdiocese of Toronto said they “worked closely throughout the process, providing full cooperation with the authorities.”

They also stated that Pereira was entitled to due process.

“We recognize that any allegation of misconduct against a priest is newsworthy. It is also important to update stories and reports to reflect that the charges have been withdrawn to help restore the reputation of Fr. Pereira was also included in the statement.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, parents expressed concerns about the process and the school board’s and diocese’s decision to fully reinstate Pereira and allow him to continue working with their children in SMCDSB schools.

Bagley told the audience that the school board “cares about your most precious gifts, your children, and you should feel and know that they are being safely cared for in the schools they attend.”

He said the meeting was to “provide background and facts, explain processes and address the many questions that were presented to us prior to this meeting, and provide (parents) with an opportunity to ask questions and seek further clarification if necessary.”

The main point of contention was the interpretation of the charges that were withdrawn rather than dropped.

While both Bagley and Leger insisted that Pereira was “acquitted” of the crime, many parents also argued that the definition did not mean that Pereira was presumed innocent of the charges.

“Withdrawing” the charges means the Crown has decided not to prosecute.

“It makes no sense as to why this decision was made and is not a statement one way or another on the merits of the case,” said Simcoe County Crown Attorney Lynne Saunders. BarrieToday when asked to explain in general terms the meaning of the withdrawn charges.

“The term ‘dropped’ means the same thing, but is more of a colloquial or slang term,” he added.

At last night’s meeting, Leger emphasized: “Father Neil did not do what he was accused of doing. There is no such thing as approaching the edge and turning back. No. “There was no merit to the accusation and hence the charges were withdrawn.”

“It’s a matter of terminology and it’s important that you explain exactly what happened,” said a man in the front row.

“So the charges are withdrawn and that’s as far as I know,” Leger replied.

“I don’t think that’s enough,” another man said.

Parents also asked why Pereira did not attend the meeting.

“I asked Neil not to be here so he wouldn’t have to face a lot of people who might be hostile and angry,” Leger said.

Leger and Bagley were then asked whether the congregation would consider moving Pereira to a role that did not involve regular interaction with schoolchildren to minimize any potential discomfort or concern.

Leger, St. He said St. Mary’s is a large parish in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

“I cannot serve all the schools on my own, and that is why Neil has returned to full service,” Leger said.

He also said an independent panel “have considered this matter and are fully and unanimously in favor of reinstating Neil to full ministry.”

Many of the participants were unimpressed by the explanations they heard.

“A lot of valid questions were asked tonight,” local parent Brent Theriault said BarrieToday after the meeting. “It looks to me like they’re not going to change course and hopefully we’ll have another one of these (meetings).

“I don’t think anyone here is happy with the outcome,” he added.