A Defence Lawyer’s Dream!

Father Rene Dube faced sexual abuse charges in the Province of Quebec and stood trial in early 2000.

The charges arose from allegations of a victim of Father Paul Lapierre who alleged he was molested in Montreal by both Lapierre and Dube.

Dube was acquitted.  The acquittal centred around allegations of mistaken identity.  The latter arose because the alleged victim (Claude Marleau) did not know or recall Dube’s name but had a vivid recollection of his features and  provided a detailed description of his alleged molester to police.  Police thought the description matched that of Father Gilles Deslaurier and the investigation proceeded on that basis.  However as soon as the alleged victim was given the opportunity to see photos of diocesan clergy he readily identified Dube as his alleged molester.  Dube was charged but the initial police mess-up over identification apparently proved to be a defence lawyer’s dream!

The Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall fought desperately to have a publication ban on Father Dube’s name at the Cornwall Public Inquiry.  The battle was unsuccessful: Father Dube was named.

I have had contact with others who allege sex abuse at the hands of Father Rene Dube.

 MEDIA

27 August 2008:  LaRocque ignored church protocols regarding accused priests (Larocque claims he knew Father Dube was “completely innocent” and hence did not suspend him.  Claims Fr Paul Lapierre to told him it was Father Don Scott, NOT Dube)

30 January 2007: Diocese Employee’s Name Not Protected

16 January 2007:  Alleged abusers can be named at inquiry

08 December 2006: Employee has no right to privacy, inquiry told:  Publication ban would turn tradition ‘on its head’ inquiry into sex abuse hears

28 November 2006:  Few secrets at Project Truth Inquiry

27 November 2006: Unorthodox rules for Claude Marleau testimony (The Diocese’s battle for a publication ban on Father Rene Dube’s name)

24 November 2006:  [More Delays – Cornwall Inquiry to run for another year] (The Diocese’s battle for  publication bans)

Ordained:  07 June 1969

1967-1973: Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Alexandria, Ontario (Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall)The above information is provided in one source, however Dube was ordained in 1969.  It is highly possible therefore that Rene Dube was affiliated with and assisting at Sacred Heart while he was a seminarian. I have another source which places Father Dube at St. John Bosco in Cornwall in late 1969/1970.  

1980:  Pastor at Christ the King (Chrite-Roi) Roman Catholic Church, Cornwall, Ontario (Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall)

• An elected dean and chairman of the diocese’s senate of priests.
• In charge of Roman Catholic Scouts (Les Scouts Catholiques) for the diocese

1985-1986: Pastor at St. Theresa of Lesieux Roman Catholic Church, Cornwall, Ontario (Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall)

• 1985-1986: Diocesan contact for Knights of Columbus
• 1985-1986: Diocesan director of “MCF (Mouvement Couple & Famille)”
• 1985-1986: Diocesan contact for “Divorced and Separated Catholics”

1987, 1991-94:  Pastor at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Co-cathedral), Cornwall, Ontario (Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall)

• 1985-1986: Member of the Diocesan Tribunal (with Msgr. Bernard Guindon, Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jacques Leduc, Father Evariste Martin, Jeanine Lacombe, Gordon Bryan, Sr. Cecile Rochon)

1991 – 93: Diocesan contact for the Knights of Columbus

• 1991- 1993:  Diocesan director of “MCF (Mouvement Couple & Famille)”
• 1991- 93: Spiritual Director for “Aggiornamento”
• 1991 – 1995:  Diocesan Tribunal (with Msgr. Bernard Guindon, Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jacques Leduc, Father Evariste Martin, Jeanine Lacombe, Gordon Bryan and Sr. Cecile Rochon csc)
• 1993:  Diocesan director of “MCF (Mouvement Couple & Famille)”

1995 – 2000, 2002, 2006: Pastor at Holy Cross (Sainte-Croix) Roman Catholic Church, Cornwall, Ontario (Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall)

• 1996:  Diocesan Tribunal (with Msgr. Bernard Guindon, Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jacques Leduc, Jeanine Lacombe, Gordon Bryan and Sr. Cecile Rochon csc)
• 1997:  Diocesan Tribunal (with Msgr. Bernard Guindon, Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jean Paul Poninski, Jeanine Lacombe, Gordon Bryan and Sr. Madeleine Lalonde sscj)
• 1998 – 2000:  Diocesan Tribunal (with Msgr. Bernard Guindon, Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jacques Leduc, Sr. Madeleine Lalonde sscj and Gordon Bryan)
• 2000:  Advisor to the Health Care Ethics and Values, Audit Committee (committee members Dr. Raymond Legault, Father Claude Halle. Gordon Bryan advisor)
• 2000:  Diaconate formation (French Sector)
• 2000:  4th Degree Assembly KOC
• 2002:  Diocesan Tribunal (with Father Denis Vaillancourt, Jacques Leduc, Mme. Claire McNamara and Gordon Bryan)
• 2002: in charge of the Diaconate program for the diocese (with Father Kevin Malony and Rev. Mr. [Deacon] Gordon Bryan)
• June 2007:  died three months after diagnosed with ALS.  Funeral Mass conducted by his good friend Bishop Luc Bouchard, now Bishop of St. Paul Diocese, Alberta and former priest of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.

Well-known priest succumbs to ALS

Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 – 08:00

Local News – By Greg Peerenboom

Less than three months after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, one of the city’s most well-known clergyman passed away Monday.

In an earlier interview, Rev. Rene Dube said the crippling disease had given him a new appreciation of life and faith in God.

“Our faith gives so much. It doesn’t take away the fear, suffering or hurt, it’s all there, but it gives it meaning,” Dube said earlier this month.

“Life is not what happens to you that’s important, it’s what you do with what happens to you. That’s my way of seeing it.”

Dube preached for nearly 38 years after he was ordained in 1969. To this only child of the late Alfred Dube and Inez Jarvo, many community residents became part of his pastoral family.

He ministered at St. John Bosco, Sacré-Coeur, Christ-Roi, Ste-Thérèse, Nativity Co-Cathedral and, most recently, Sainte-Croix.

Visitation will be at Lahaie and Sullivan Funeral Homes, East Branch, on First Street E., Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

The body will be transferred from Lahaie and Sullivan to Nativity Co-cathedral, Sunday at 2 p.m., with visitation between 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Former diocese priest Luc Bouchard and dear riend of Rev. Dube will celebrate the funeral Mass on Monday at 11 a.m.

Diocese Employee’s Name Not Protected

Cornwall News AM 1220

January 30, 2007 — An employee with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall will not have his name protected at the Cornwall Public Inquiry. Lawyers for the church have given up their fight to have a publication ban on the name of one of its priests. In 2001, Rene Dube, was acquitted of sexual abuse charges. Last year, diocese lawyers asked Commissioner, Normand Glaude, for a ban but the request was denied. Diocese lawyers went to the Ontario Divisional Court but the panel upheld Glaude’s decision. The Ontario Court of Appeal also dismissed the request. A 10 day stay was put in place to allow for further legal action but that time frame has now passed. Therefore, Dube’s name will not be protected by a ban.