Deschenes reported being sexually abused by Father Charles Sylvestre in 1994. He later pleaded guilty to abusing 47 girls when he worked as a priest in Southwestern Ontario. He died in prison.

In 2000, Deschenes settled a lawsuit with the dioceses for damages she suffered at the hands Sylvestre. The church claimed it didn't know Sylvestre was a predator when he was transferred to Deschenes' parish in the early 1970s.

However, Deschenes found documents that proved church officials did know about Sylvestre's predatory behaviour as far back as the 1960s, and she has sought to reopen the lawsuit because the settlement was reached based on misrepresentation by the church. The Catholic diocese has fought the woman's claim through every level of the court system.

In 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada sided with Deschenes, setting aside an appeal application by the church. That decision effectively forced both sides to negotiate a settlement, which was reached in 2021 after two days of mediation.