West Island deacon arrested for alleged child porn possession

A photo of William Kokesch released by the Montreal police.

MONTREAL—William Kokesch, a well-known deacon in the West Island, was arrested by the Montreal police at his home in Pointe-Claire on Friday and charged with the possession and production of child pornography.

Responding to a complaint from a citizen, police searched Kokesch’s home and allegedly found a vast quantity of child pornography as well as chat messages on pedophilic websites.

“Police officers made two searches yesterday and one arrest of a 65-year-old man,” said Montreal constable Danny Richer. “They seized computer equipment and more than 2,000 pictures of kids. Now the man has been accused of producing child pornography.”

The 65-year-old was a consultant for the Catholic Church in St-Edmund’s parish for the past seven years and is said to have advised the current Pope.

The local parish priest refused to confirm whether the St-Edmund of Canterbury Church, a modern building at the corner of St-Charles Blvd. and Beaconsfield Blvd. was one of the targets in the child porn bust. An elementary school borders the church.

In a statement later on Saturday, the Archdiocese of Montreal removed Kokesch from all pastoral activities and said it was “profoundly upset” with the charges.

“Child pornography is an affront to human dignity, and our first concern rests with those who are its victims,” the archdiocese said in its statement, pledging to work with authorities.

Kokesch, who once gave conferences on sexual crimes for the church, is said to be fully cooperating with investigators.

A frequent commenter to the media on the Catholic Church, Kokesch worked as a radio reporter during the 70s and 80s. In 2006, Kokesch spoke with CTV Montreal about an apology given by the church during the sex scandals that continue to embroil that institution.

“Reconciliation doesn’t happen overnight,” said Kokesch. “Healing takes time.”

Kokesch was once the spokesman for Canadian Conference of Bishops and was very active with Catholic youth organizing, working on conferences in Cologne, Toronto, Rome and Paris.

Appearing at the Montreal courthouse by video conference on Saturday afternoon, Kokesch did not enter a plea at the time and his lawyer declined to comment. With a bail hearing set for next week, the deacon is expected to spend Christmas in jail. Kokesch was married and has adult children.