OTTAWA — A convicted pedophile has been cleared by an Anglican bishop to resume his duties as an assistant organist and choir director at a local church.
Ottawa Bishop Peter Coffin ruled in July that John Gallienne may return to St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church despite a lifetime ban from church leadership positions.
Gallienne’s future at the church had been in question since May, when the Kingston Whig-Standard published a 5,000-word story on his role at St. John’s. The story pointed out that his work there violated a church ban imposed after he pleaded guilty in 1990 to sexually abusing 13 young boys while he was choirmaster and organist at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Kingston.
The lifetime ban, which barred Gallienne from holding a leadership position or being involved in a music program in any Kingston-area Anglican church, was imposed in 1994, when he was released after serving four years in prison.
The Ottawa Anglican diocese adopted the same ban after Gallienne and his wife relocated there. On July 4, Pat Johnston, Coffin’s executive assistant, said the bishop has written a letter giving Gallienne permission for “limited musical leadership” at St. John’s. There are a number of conditions attached to the permission, Johnston explained. “Mr. Gallienne may not work with any children or young people, and his involvement is restricted to St. John’s parish. The bishop continues to monitor the situation.”
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