The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 1

IH 0 IMP 1 The Vancouver WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 www.vancouvcrsun.com Catholics sever ties with VaeCity for smppoirtm gays Handel 'hollow and empty' after killing children 14 pages of writing by the accused help shed light on his mental state BY KIM WESTAD CANWEST NEWS SERVICE -jr I 3 JL CAMPBELL RIVER After killing his six children as they slept, Jay Handel wrote letters condemning his wife and marriage, rarely mentioning the children on whom he is said to have doted. The three letters, a total of 14 double-spaced pages of legible writing, provide background on the events of March 11, 2002, when Handel killed his children and set the family home on fire. They also were a key factor in the opinion of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Stan Semrau, who testified for the defence Tuesday. He said Handel had a mental disorder when he strangled two of his children and shot the other four.

Handel's state of mind at the time of the killings is the issue for the B.C. Supreme Court jury. Handel, 46, admits the killings but has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder. Instead, defence lawyers John Green and Roxanne Helme say he should be found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder. Semrau will continue testifying today.

Handel was calmer in court Tuesday than on Monday, when he collapsed as he testified about killing his children. He occasionally cried when questioned by prosecutor Derrill Prevett, and at times was combative. He parsed Prevett's questions, suggesting some of them showed a "perverted perspective" and were "depraved." He testified while he's sorry his children are dead, he is not ashamed of himself. "I am as hollow and empty as a man can be without the company of his precious children and I sit here before you now in agony that I'd never be See CAN'T RECALL A2 Archbishop calls credit union's approach 'objectionable' and 'harmful' BY DOUGLAS TODD VANCOUVER SUN Vancouver's Catholic archdiocese has cancelled a long-standing partnership with VanCity Credit Union because the financial institution actively supports the city's gay and lesbian community. Archbishop Adam Exner ended a VanCity program operating in four Catholic schools after the giant credit union launched an ad campaign featuring two men sitting cheek-to-cheek, saying, "I want to bank with people who value all partnerships." Accusing VanCity of engaging in an "objectionable cause," Exner said the credit union's pro-homosexual advertising campaigns and sponsorships display public support for "agendas which are worrisome and harmful to the' church and to society." The archdiocese, as a result, this month forbade four of its Catholic schools to continue to take part in VanCity's in-school junior banking program, which teaches students how to save and invest their money, run a business and develop mathematical and leadership skills.

One of the Catholic elementary schools, St. Helen's in Burnaby, had been active in the VanCity program for seven years. In that time, VanCity official Sara Holland said 600 students had saved their allowances and earnings and together deposited more than $250,000 in the junior banking program. Childhood, cancers Pregnancy cited as crucial period for the disease's development BY SHARON KIR KEY CANWEST NEWS SERVICE Women whose children are diagnosed with some cancers face an increased risk of breast cancer, according to an alarming new study that suggests the tragedy of cancer can begin at the same time new life forms in the womb. Researchers who tracked more than 2,600 children with muscle, skin, kidney and certain other solid tumours found a greater-than-expected number of breast cancers among their mothers.

The risk of breast cancer was highest among women whose children were diagnosed with cancer before their sixth birthday, and especially among mothers of boys. The researchers suspect a combination of genetic and hormonal baby interactions in the womb put women and their babies at risk for I to of a at of This VanCity ad is being used to woo gay people to do business with the credit union. Exner, who has a PhD in moral theology, acknowledged that VanCity's youth banking programs are a "signifk cant good" because theyieach financial responsibility to children. Exner nevertheless wrote in a four-page philosophy-laden letter to the four Catholic schools that "a good effect must not be produced by the bad effect" of cooperating with an organization that promotes homosexual relationships. "We're certainly disappointed," said Doug Mowat, chief executive officer of VanCity, the largest credit union in Canada with 250,000 members.

"But it's up to the Catholic church make its own decision. We are trying to make our services available to everyone out there. We're trying to reduce barriers. But there's always someone who will have a different viewpoint." Many parents at the four Catholic schools have asked VanCity if they could continue operating the program out of their local VanCity branch, Mowat said Tuesday. "The parents see the thrill the kids get out of the program." See JUNIOR BANKING A2 maternal linked "It is known that some genes are involved in certain childhood cancers and breast cancer in mothers, but we don't know when, and how the process carcinogenesis" starts, says Dr.

Dong Pang, an epidemiologist with the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in the U.K. The study, based on nearly half a century's worth of data, suggests "that crucial period for the development of both breast cancer in mothers and certain cancers in children is the respective pregnancy," says Pang, who will present his research today at the European Cancer Conference in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, in a separate study involving the longest ever "look-back" childhood cancer survivors, researchers found that nearly half of children who survive a diagnosis of cancer suffer at least one health problem later in life caused by the very treatments that saved their lives. About 1,500 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year in Canada. Forty years ago, only about 20 per cent children survived the disease.

Today, See HIGH ESTROGEN A8 MARK VAN MANENVANCOUVER SUN archdiocese partnership with VanCity. St. Mary's Hospital to sell surgical services BY PAMELA FAYERMAN VANCOUVER SUN Archbishop Adam Exner cancelled Catholic INSIDE WILD SWEETS Pastry chefs reveal their amazing new vision of desert. Cl 'V Mostly sunny Full report, E7 70 CENTS RETAIL 75 CENTS COIN BOX $1 MINIMUM OUTSIDE LOWER MAINLAND 57040 10035' Arts life David Baines Births Deaths Bridge Business Careers Classified ComicsKids Crossword Editorials Ferry Schedule Cl Horoscope C7 D3 Letters A19 E8 Pete McMartin Bl E7 Movies C7 Dl Vaughn Palmer A18 DJ3 Mike Sasges D16 Fl Sports El D19 TV D20 C7.E7 Theatre C7 A18 Don Whiteley DU E7 Barbara Yaffe A18 Among ideas being considered are: An 18-storey development to include assisted living units, medical clinics and condominiums; an obesity clinic to sell non-MSP insured surgical and medical consulting services; a family practice medical clinic to generate rental income from doctors and other health professionals, and an eye surgery centre for at least 800 cataract procedures a year. Larry Odegard, hospital chief executive officer, said he couldn't find any other models in the country to See ST.

MARY'S A8 The newly entrepreneurial Saint Mary's Hospital in New Westminster plans to boldly go where no other B.C. hospital has gone, as it seeks to sell surgical and other services while maintaining its status as a public, not-for-profit hospital. Facing extinction because of a 62 per-cent reduction in taxpayer funding just a year ago, hospital administrators have drafted a "unique and creative" redevelopment plan intended to bring in new sources of revenue to keep the hospital open. canada.com Low Cost Warehouse Operation No Commission Sales Staff Direct Factory Purchases Huge Manufacturer's Discounts Volume Dealer Warehouse Pricing Large Selection UMTED Furniture Warehouse Brand Name Furniture Mattresses COQUITLAM SURREY CLEARBROOK PUT MEADOWS VANCOUVER RICHMOND CHILLIWACK SQUAMISH 1101 United Blvd 6935 George 31877S FiaserW 19068 Lougheed 3057 GraiKtview 7731 Alderbndge Way 45365 Ludiakix 38918 Prowess JU 1 540-6060 '4'591-6727 W41 850-2250 INK) 465-9422 (6041 430-8899 ffimi 270-7810 I6ii4i 858-7202 lnm 892-5525 ri- x-riM-wrtJ 1" t..