JACK VOLLERING, appeared before court Monday morning last for a pretrial hearing on two charges; sexual interference of a minor under the age of 14 and sexual assault. The judge at the pretrial hearing took Mr Vollering's lawyer into chambers for discussion; later, Mr Vollering was advised to consult with his lawyer and then return for a court appearance January 16. Mr Vollering is free on his own recognizance with a promise to appear.
Jack Vollering, 65, has been a Catholic elementary school teacher for many years, teaching in Grafton, Port Hope and Cobourg. His last teaching assignment was grade six at St Michael’s School, located next to St. Michael’s Church in Cobourg. News of the charges spread today (Dec 19) to radio stations in Cobourg and Peterborough and also into the social media where the discussion revolved around how the school responded to concerned parents when they brought his behavior to their attention.
This is the same church with 12 parishioners who had received an Ontario Human Rights Commission complaint in 2009 from St Anne’s Spa owner, Jim Corcoran.
The complaint charged that Jack Vollering and the 11 other parishioners threatened “to go public with their complaints if the Bishop did not remove the 2 gay servers from the altar. . . . In their letters the group has tried to establish that I am married to my same sex partner, that I am an active homosexual leading an openly homosexual lifestyle and they implied that I may be in a relationship with Father Hood. . . . this group of 12 parishioners have used their distaste towards homosexuality to limit my right to serve my church and deepen my faith by serving on the altar, and to pursue a vocation within the Catholic Church. They have also caused me embarrassment in my church community by circulating petitions to fellow parishioners containing accusations pertaining to my lifestyle.”
A year later the complaint was resolved in mediation.
A year later, one of the 12 parishioners is facing accusations pertaining to his lifestyle; sexual interference of a minor and sexual assault. Pumping irony?
Jack Vollering is a member in good standing with the local Knights of Columbus. The July 3, 2011 bulletin of St Michael’s Church announced that he was the Grand Knight. Other church bulletins indicate that Jack Vollering was a winner of the Respect Life Lottery Calendar and that he was the contact for tickets to the Clergy Appreciation Dinner at St Therese Parish in Courtice.
OPP officer, Angela Ward, is the contact point for any further victims in the community or anyone who has information to share. She can be reached at 905-372-5421, ext. 10805.
Posts
2 comments:
The Knights of Columbus does NOT endorse sex crimes. Mr. Vollering is no longer the Grand Knight.
I have not heard from any official of the Knights of Columbus that Mr Vollering had been removed from his posting as Grand Knight.
Anonymous has no credibility due to anonymity. Liars prefer to be anonymous.
Question: Was Jack Vollering removed from the position of Grand Knight, or did he resign? When was Jack Vollering's position ended?
Post a Comment