BARRIE, Ont. - A former chief Roman Catholic chaplain of the Canadian Forces is due in court today to sex-related charges, including "buggery" and indecent assault on a male.
The charges against Roger Bazin, a priest and retired brigadier general, stem from his time as padre at CFB Borden, north of Toronto, in 1972.
Bazin was a captain at the time of the alleged incidents and was later promoted and served as Catholic chaplain general of the Forces from 1992 to 1995.
He is charged under the 1972 Criminal Code, the statute in effect at the time of the offences, hence the now-discarded charge of "buggery."
Brig.-Gen. David Kettle is the current chaplain general of the Forces.
He said at the time the charges were announced that he was shocked by the allegations.
"I take very seriously the charges laid against a former chaplain general for alleged actions committed while serving as a unit chaplain in 1972,"' he said in a statement.
"I am certain that I speak for all chaplains when I say that my heart goes out to the victims of such crimes, and their families."
