Anger over Abuse Must Be Transformed into Useful Energy

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The first decision is out in the hundreds of suits filed by former students who say they were abused at Indian residential schools staffed by the Anglican Church. A B.C. judge found the church vicariously liable as an employer of the perpetrator, guilty of negligence and in breach of the trust that it would care for the children. (Several children were abused although there was only one plaintiff in this case.)

Reaction to the judgment ranges from anger the church tried to defend itself to anger it didn't defend itself better. Anglicans across the country are wondering if they will have a church in 25 years; some think the demise of the institution would be good, others see it as sad at best, abysmal stewardship at worst.

In the midst of it all, there are victims, lawyers and guilt.

It's a truism to say the situation is complex.

At the heart of the matter are people who were supposed to be cared for and were horrifically sexually abused. That needs to be said with no ifs ands or buts. It …