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Templeton had “no difficulty” accepting a joint submission from the Crown and the defence for a nine-year prison sentence.

They were tough words directed squarely at the 72-year-old former cleric and university history instructor who was the priest at the First Nations community in the late 1970s and early 1980s, found guilty after a trial late last year of three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault on boys four decades ago.

But the words lifted the men he damaged and gave them hope. “Her words, while she was talking, they shook my core,” said a victim who had tried for 20 years to get the police to investigate the respected clergyman. “I couldn’t help but shake.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o8IV2a1nHY&feature=youtu.be

The altar boys, all of them from poor backgrounds and marginalized homes, appeared to have been selected by Norton to serve at the church for sinister reasons. The priest would often take them to his London apartment on weekends and offer them luxuries and experiences they never had at home, such as movies, car rides, bowling, fast food and Cap’n Crunch cereal.

At night, after Norton gave them chocolate milk or Pop Shoppe pop, they would become sleepy and would be tucked into Norton’s bed where he would sleep beside them.

Their testimonies painted a painful picture of abuse and trauma.

Even though Norton pleaded guilty a year ago to sexually abusing a boy in the 1990s at St. Mark’s church in London, he maintained his innocence in connection with the Chippewas altar boys.

However, he instructed his defence lawyer to join the Crown in recommending the lengthy nine-year sentence this week.

“I understand how you would think it would be confusing, that if you are innocent, why are you just accepting the sentence thrown at you,” said his defence lawyer Lakin Afolabi. “That’s a good question. Mr. Norton knows the answer.”

The sentence called for nine years on each count to be served at the same time. But the sentence is on top of the four-year sentence Norton is currently serving for the previous conviction, meaning he has a 13-year sentence in total.

But Templeton’s words went farther than a simple prison sentencing. She encouraged the men — all of them fathers — to help children in their community and beyond by sharing their stories.

“Your ability to positively affect change and change the lives of victims is far greater than mine is now, ever has been or ever will be,” she said.