Late Friday, Judge William C. Pate ruled that internal church documents of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego pertaining to priests who had been convicted, credibly accused or named in molestation lawsuits could be released. This is a battle that has been going on for a long time. The lawyers involved have indicated that there are more documents that should be released.
“These documents show how it happened,” said attorney Anthony De Marco, who represented victims. “They help give insight into how such travesty can occur on such a large scale … placing the institution above protecting children. … I think to ever remedy a problem, you have to understand it.”
The records are from the personnel files of 48 priests. The pedophile priests were the cause of the nearly $200 million settlement by the diocese in 2007. As part of that settlement there was a stipulation that an independent judge would review the priests’ sealed personnel records and determine what could be made public.
If you suffered, saw or suspected such events it is important to know that there is help out there.
A founding partner with Bradshaw & Bryant, Mike Bryant has always fought to find justice for his clients—knowing that legal troubles, both personal injury and criminal, can be devastating for a family. Voted a Top 40 Personal Injury "Super Lawyer" multiple years, Mr. Bryant has also been voted one of the Top 100 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" four times.
2 Comments
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
It is terrible that church leadership in California and across the country continue in their attempts to suppress the truth about sexually abusive bishops and priests from coming out.
Bishops from Denver, Colorado to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and from New York to Maryland together with their state Catholic Conferences viciously oppose Statute of Limitation reform in every state where it is proposed and spend millions to do it.
Not one U.S. bishop has been disciplined for being complicit in the sexual abuse of untold numbers of children.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington in the state of Delaware did the very same thing in filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of the eve of the first trial's opening against serial sexual abuser Fr. Francis DeLuca in October of 2009. TRhe CDOW has now challenged the constitutionality of the 2007 Child Victims Law in the Delaware Supreme Court. This Monday morning, Oct. 25,'10 the DeLuca trial against the parishes involved is scheduled to open in Dover, DE.
From NPR:
http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2010/04/12/holding-clergy-and-church-leaders-legally-accountable-for-child-abuse/
From Canada:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiPQ-3JTw3k&NR=1
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, DE
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
Mike Bryant
Thank you for taking the time and to leave the helpful comment. The statute of limitations issue is a big one and a clear sign that the church leadership is going to fight responsibility any way they can.
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