The priest who is chief of staff for the Archbishop responded to the advocates' criticisms in a statement. "A funeral Mass is not a glorification of a person's life, but rather an act of mercy for the dead during which we pray that, despite any failings in life, they may be received by a merciful God."
The priest was arrested after a boy said the priest molested him in the restroom at an elementary school. After all charges were dropped in 2015, the priest sued the boy’s mother and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest. The lawsuit was settled in 2017 and the mother and SNAP apologized to the priest. The priest said that he had never met or spent any time with his now 21-year-old accuser, who did not appear in court Thursday.
"The Archdiocese has returned Father to ministry to serve the needs of the poor and vulnerable," spokeswoman said in an email this week. "A re-review of an allegation of misconduct with an adult originally reported almost 20 years ago has concluded and the matter regarding Father has been closed." The center where Father is now assigned provides food, clothing and other basic necessities to struggling families and individuals. The ministry focuses on people in abusive relationships, those struggling with addiction, and pregnant and parenting women.
Pope Francis has determined "there are insufficient grounds to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault by Cardinal Ouellet regarding person ‘F’.” The accusations, which came to light in recent days, concern events that took place more than ten years ago, when Ouellet was Archbishop of Quebec City.
Upon completing the additional formation asked of him, Fr. Silva was given permission to return to active ministry in July and has been assisting at parishes around the diocese. Father is a fine priest, and I am confident that he will serve his parish community very well," the Bishop said in a statement released by the Diocese. "Father has done everything we have asked him to do, I trust him completely, and it’s time for him to get back to work.”