The Diocese of Prince George Pastoral Centre on Southridge Ave., in Prince George, B.C. (Image Credit: CKPGtoday.ca Staff)

By Adam Berls

diocese sexual assault lawsuits

‘Soul murder’: Lawyer says claimants of sexual abuse pain is still felt today

Mar 13, 2026 | 4:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Amid the multiple sexual assault lawsuits that the Diocese of Prince George is facing, a lawyer who has successfully gotten her clients settlements from the Diocese of Prince George, for claims of historical sexual assault, says that civil litigation is the only thing in the long history of the church, that has created safer environments.

Sandra Kovacs is no stranger the courtroom and is no stranger to taking on big cases. Just last year, Sandra and her team successfully got a $3.4 million settlement for their client from the Diocese of Prince George. Their client, who was only known as John Doe, claimed sexual abuse by a teacher at then O’Grady Catholic High School in Prince George, between 1993 and 1994. Kovacs says that despite any outcome of a potential settlement, the psychological harm to a victim, is already done.

Kovacs says that civil litigation is the only thing in the long history of the church, that has created safer environments, but there is a caveat to that:

“I think the administration, diocesan administrators, whether it’s Prince George, Kamloops, Vancouver, you name it, they’re going to try and say, this is a historical problem. We have systems now. We have policies and they’re better than they were for sure, because they have to be. The reason we have these policies now is because of civil litigation. It’s the only thing in the 2000 year history of the church that has created safer environments and better policies. But the the fundamental foundation of the church that enables this problem to happen has not changed in such a way that I am certainly reassured that children should be safe in that environment. Is it better than it was? Yes. Is it safe? That’s questionable, because I don’t think the fundamental concerns have changed. “, said Sandra Kovacs of Kazlaw Injury & Trauma Lawyers

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In the letter from the Diocese that was sent to parishioners about the closing of St. Mary’s Parish, they stated lawsuits were a “significant and growing concern” and that the decision to close St. Mary’s would make the community “more resilient in order to withstand forthcoming challenges.” Kovacs says the letter, puts up red flags for her.

“I’m not privy to information, obviously, behind the curtain in the Diocese, but assets are removed. Bankruptcies happen. And I see this letter, sort of an early warning sign that perhaps they’re heading in that direction. Whether or not that is the fiscal reality is a different question that only an auditor can perhaps answer.” – Sandra Kovacs, Kazlaw Injury & Trauma Lawyers

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Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com