The Franco-Canadian priest Joannes Rivoire, accused of sexually assaulting young Inuits in the Canadian North in the 1960s and sought by Canadian authorities for years, has passed away in France, his congregation announced. The nonagenarian, who lived near Lyon, was never brought to justice despite multiple extradition requests. Rivoire always denied the accusations against him, and his death has been difficult news for the survivors and their families who fought for him to face justice in Canada.
Rivoire, seen as a symbol of impunity for sexual abusers within the Catholic Church, died following a long illness, according to Father Ken Thorson of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Despite efforts to bring him to justice, Rivoire never faced the allegations against him. He left Canada in 1993 after 33 years and was subject to a new Canadian arrest warrant for sexually assaulting a child in the Canadian Arctic between 1974 and 1979. However, France rejected the extradition request in 2022, citing the complexity of the case and the policy of not extraditing its citizens.
The decision not to extradite Rivoire was met with confusion and disappointment in Canada, with the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller expressing regret at the serious injustice. Even efforts to exclude Rivoire from the congregation were unsuccessful. The OMI, an organization with 3,700 missionaries worldwide, claimed they were not informed of the first arrest warrant issued against him in 1998 until 2013. Rivoire’s case has continued to haunt the Canadian North, where he was accused of sexually assaulting young Inuits.
The Pope Francis has recently apologized for the participation of Catholics in the “devastating” policies towards indigenous people in Canada. The case of Joannes Rivoire highlights the ongoing challenges and injustices faced by indigenous communities, particularly in cases of historical abuse and exploitation. Despite the efforts of survivors and their families, Rivoire was never held accountable for his actions, raising questions about accountability and justice within institutions such as the Catholic Church. The impact of Rivoire’s actions continues to be felt by those affected, highlighting the need for ongoing support and advocacy for survivors of abuse.
