Church wants Supreme Court to overturn sexual abuse ruling

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The archdiocese of St. John’s will ask the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a decision that declared the city’s Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation liable for sexual abuse at the Mount Cashel orphanage in the 1950s.

The archdiocese says in a release that its lawyers Wednesday petitioned for leave to appeal the July decision from the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal.

Geoff Budden, the victims’ lawyer, had said the Appeal Court ruling meant the archdiocese would have to pay about $2 million to four lead plaintiffs. Budden said today’s decision to appeal was expected, although his clients would rather be getting their settlements.

The archdiocese expressed sympathy for victims of abuse and said it regrets that legal proceedings will be prolonged.