Alleged victim reportedly wants to see priest charged with assault in court

POWERVIEW, Man. — A First Nations woman says a 92-year-old priest accused of assaulting her when she was a student at a former residential school showed cowardice by failing to attend her first court appearance.

Arthur Masse faces one count of indecent assault. The alleged victim was 10 years old at the time of the alleged events and attended the residential school in Fort Alexander, Manitoba.

His lawyer appeared on his behalf in court in Powerview, north of Winnipeg, and his next court date has been set for August 17.

Victoria McIntosh, who is 63, says she had hoped the priest would be in court so she could face him for the first time in over 50 years.

In court, she was holding a sweater she wore as a child.

She says talking about her residential school experience was one of the hardest things she’s done, but she feels like she’s finally been heard.

The Canadian Press does not usually name complainants in such cases, but Ms McIntosh said she wanted to speak publicly and no publication ban was ordered.