The earliest known victim of Father Robert Whyte, who taught at St. Mary's College in the 1960s, has settled a lawsuit against the Catholic order that operated the school.
WARNING: The following story may be upsetting to some readers as it includes disturbing accounts of childhood sexual abuse.
When SMC opened its doors in 1956, two Basilian priests oversaw a total of 72 boys in only two classrooms. Grade 10 was added in 1957, and along with the increase in students came a need for additional staff. Whyte transferred to the city that same year from his teaching post at Assumption College School in Toronto.
SooToday does not publish the names of sexual assault victims. Instead, we are using the pseudonym Phil to identify the former student. "All I can hope for is that it's an opportunity for someone to recognize if they are a victim they're not alone and that they have a choice of coming forward or not," said Phil.
The statement of claim says Whyte directed the boy to an office in the school under the guise of providing sexual education and counselling. Whyte instructed him to partially disrobe before he was fondled and forced to endure other sexual acts by the priest."We were a devout Catholic family. I was an altar boy," he said. "As a kid, it's like: 'Yes, Father, whatever you want, Father. I'm happy to help you.
Whyte left SMC in August 1961 to teach in Alberta. The first incident he pleaded guilty to occurred the following year, in 1962.
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