A priest who had been working in an interim role at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in North Vancouver is facing charges of sexually abusing teenagers at an Edmonton youth jail three decades ago.
Gordon William Dominey, 63, has been charged with sexually assaulting five teens when he worked at the Edmonton Youth Detention Centre between 1985 and 1989. The teens – all boys – were between 14 and 17 at the time of the alleged incidents.
Dominey was arrested at his Coquitlam home on Feb. 4.
Dominey had been working since September as an interim priest at the North Vancouver church.
George Cadman, chancellor for the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster which oversees the church, said the congregation was shocked to learn about the charges. Dominey has had “an unblemished record” during his 26 years of working with the diocese, said Cadman.
“We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct. If there had been a complaint I would have known about it.”
Cadman said the diocese had placed Dominey on “administrative leave,” meaning he can’t work as a priest for the Anglican Church anywhere in Canada, while the charges are dealt with. Support is also being provided to the local congregation, said Cadman, which included a visit from Bishop Melissa Skelton on Sunday.
In a written message to the diocese, Skelton said she was “offering ongoing pastoral care and support to Gordon in what must be a very difficult time for him” as the legal process continues.
“He is entitled to a presumption of innocence and I ask for your prayers for Gordon, for all those who are involved in this legal process and for those bringing forth the allegations against him.”
Dominey transferred from the Diocese of Edmonton to the Diocese of New Westminster in July of 1990 and has worked in at least nine parishes in the Vancouver area since then.
Cadman said prior to working with the diocese, Dominey worked with Corrections Canada.
Edmonton Police said an initial investigation involving two alleged victims began in September last year and led to three more people coming forward with allegations.
Dominey faces five charges of sexual assault and five charges of gross indecency.
