Toronto priest accused of sex assaults in church, funeral home

Author: Chris Doucette | QMI AGENCY

Date Published: 10/16/2013

Toronto Police have laid more sex charges against a Reverend from a Scarborough church after he allegedly attacked a female parishioner earlier this month. Ioan Pop, 54, now faces a total of 8 sexual assault charges after more complainants came forward. Credits: Terry Davidson/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

TORONTO — An east-end priest, already accused of sexual assaults involving several female parishioners, now faces more charges after another five women came forward with complaints, police said Wednesday.

Some of the latest assaults allegedly occurred in a funeral home.

Rev. Ioan Pop, 54, of the All Saints Romanian Orthodox Church was slapped with an additional five counts of sexual assault on Tuesday, police said.

Pop now faces a total of 13 sexual assault charges and one count of forcible confinement.

“It is alleged that he sexually assaulted women either in church or in a funeral home,” police said of the new charges.

Pop, who is considered an influential man within Scarborough’s Romanian Orthodox community, was initially arrested Sept. 11 and charged with one count of sexual assault after a woman alleged she had been sexually assaulted at All Saints a week earlier.

“While at the church, the reverend sexually assaulted the woman,” police said last month, referring to the Sept. 3 allegation.

Police said at the time that a couple entered the church and interrupted the assault.

But after police went public with the first charge Sept. 13, releasing Pop’s photo and warning of the possibility of other victims, another seven parishioners stepped forward with similar complaints.

“I think people came forward because they felt more comfortable,” Det.-Const. Teresa Curtis said upon revealing the new allegations Sept. 30.

After surrendering to police, Pop was charged with a further seven counts of sex assault and one count of forcible confinement.

Curtis said the second wave of accusations against Pop stem from allegations that occurred between 2005 and 2011 inside the church at 545 Danforth Rd., just east of Birchmount Rd., and also at homes in Toronto and Durham Region.

Those charges inspired the latest five women to launch complaints against the priest for assaults they claim happened in the church and an unnamed funeral home.

The church has yet to comment on the alleged sex abuse of its parishioners.

Police believe there may still be more victims.

Anyone with relevant information, or who believes they have been victimized by the accused, is urged to call the sex crimes unit at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).