***** SEX CRIMES BY CHRISTIAN PRIEST - ALTAR BOYS SUE DIOCESE ***** Jai Maharaj posts
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Men allege molestation by then-priest Springer in '70s
By Adrian Angelette
Advocate staff writer
The Advocate
Friday, October 27, 2006
Baton Rouge (LA) - Three former altar boys sued the
Diocese of Baton Rouge on Thursday, claiming they were
molested by a priest in the 1970s.
All three men, along with 11 others who have previously
filed suit against the diocese, claim they were molested
by former priest Christopher Springer. The diocese has
settled lawsuits with six of the former altar boys.
"It's the same pattern over and over and over again,"
said Felecia Peavy, the Houston-based attorney handling
the cases for the 14 altar boys. "The number of
allegations continues to grow, and I don't know if we
will ever know how many victims are out there."
In the latest lawsuit against the diocese and Springer,
two of the three plaintiffs claim they were molested at
the church rectory in New Roads.
One of them, who now lives in Baton Rouge, was a member
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Maringouin when he
was abused in 1975, and the other was a member of St.
Mary's of False River Catholic Church when he was
molested in 1975 and 1976, according to the lawsuit,
which was filed in state district court in Baton Rouge.
The third altar boy, now living in Ocala, Fla., claims he
was abused from 1978 through 1981 at the rectory of his
church, St. Pius X Catholic Church in Baton Rouge.
As with most of the previous cases, the names of the
former altar boys aren't listed in the new lawsuit.
Peavy said negotiations are ongoing in all of the
unresolved cases, including the three new ones.
The Very Rev. John Carville, vicar general for the
Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, and diocesan attorney
Charles Cusimano could not be reached for comment
Thursday.
Carville has said in the past that Springer was one of
six priests removed from the diocese after allegations
were made that he had molested boys. Carville also has
said the diocese was unaware of the allegations against
Springer until 1985. Then-Bishop Stanley Ott quickly
dismissed Springer from the diocese, he said.
Cusimano has said it is difficult to comment on the cases
as they are filed because the lawsuits include the places
and times of the alleged abuse but not the names of the
victims.
As the diocese learns the names and looks into the
allegations, it offers counseling and other assistance to
those whose complaints have merit. Cusimano has said
there are no claims against any priest currently working
for the diocese.
The lawsuits contend the diocese is partly responsible
for the harm done to the altar boys because officials
knew, or should have known, about Springer's actions.
"During the many occasions when the Diocese of Baton
Rouge and the bishops knew or should have known of the
dangerous sexual propensities of Springer, the diocese
and bishops never reported the matter to authorities, as
required by law, but instead reassigned Springer to other
communities and parishes in the diocese," the recent
lawsuit claims.
All terms of the settled cases have been kept secret,
except for one.
In the case involving Patrick Myers, the only named
former altar boy, the diocese sued its insurer from the
early 1980s. In its lawsuit against Lloyds of London, the
diocese is seeking reimbursement for $72,000 paid to
Myers and $1,406 in legal fees.
Peavy said Thursday that the terms of the settlements bar
her from discussing them.
More at:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4495281.html
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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