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By Patrick Noaker
The article in the Indianapolis Star about my client who forced the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to settle his sexual abuse claims leads me to appreciate just how courageous this man is. This man was willing to file his claim against the Archdiocese when only one other lawsuit involving Fr. Monroe was known. This man was willing to file a lawsuit against an Archdiocese that had never lost a case involving childhood sexual abuse and never paid a single judgment. Why? Because this young man never cared about the money. He just wanted the Archdiocese to “quit protecting priests who are guilty.”
What got lost in the shuffle are the real reforms that this young man demanded of the Archdiocese. Specifically, the following reforms were demanded and agreed to by the Archdiocese:
(a) A public apology for what happened with Fr. Monroe;
(b) Educate children within the Archdiocese on safe touch, signs of child sexual abuse, what to do if a child suspects a friend of being sexually abused, and what to do if the child is being sexually abused;
(c) Educate all employees and volunteers within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and within any church located within the geographic boundary of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on signs of child sexual abuse and what to do if the adult suspects a child is being sexually abused;
(d) Adopt a clear policy within the Archdiocese that prohibits priests from taking overnight trips with any child;
(e) Adopt a clear policy within the Archdiocese that prohibits priests from having a child or children in his automobile;
(f) Adopt a clear policy that requires all priests or other Archdiocese or individual parish personnel, both employees and volunteers, to contact law enforcement when suspected child sexual abuse is reported;
(g) Pursue laiticiation (defrocking) of Fr. Monroe so that Fr. Monroe cannot
seek to be a priest in any other diocese.
As you can see, this was never about the money. What do you think about these reforms? Please comment.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100513/LIVING09/5130417/Abuse-victim-gets-199K-from-archdiocese
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Thanks Pat,
ReplyDeleteIsn't funny that we (victims) are not about the money and really what we want is policy change that will keep kids safe. Why is that so hard for an organization like the catholic church to understand. There isnt a company in the US that could have the churches policies around sexual abuse claims and remain in business. The fact that the catholic church maintains such damaging policies and practices makes me wonder if the devil isnt driving the ship over there in vatican city.
This is terrific. I appreciate reading these stories. They inspire me as a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work! You make us lawyers proud!!!
For shame that this is the first settlement the archdiocese of Indianapolis ever paid to a survivor.
ReplyDeleteI do not assume that geography was any protection against abuse, and suspect there are many more survivors out there who deserve recompense as well.
They got away dirt cheap by playing legal hardball, IMHO.
Inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThank you Patrick, for telling us about your client. He is to be admired for his courage in coming forward.
ReplyDeleteFrankly I am ashamed of the way the way our church leaders, especially in the United States, continue to play hardball with known victims of childhood sexual abuse by clergy.
That continues to be the case here in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on the Sunday night before the DeLuca Eight trial was to begin. Now those victims will have to endure years of suffering while the bankruptcy hearings proceed.
It is a disgrace that the diocese has resorted to this. One can only imagine the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are paid each year by the diocese for PR firms and law firms.
CHURCH LEADERS ARE SPINNING THEIR WHEELS," May 4, 2010 in the National Catholic Reporter at:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/church-leaders-are-spinning-their-wheels
NPR Radio Times show from WHYY on April 12, 2010 in Philadelphia where Marci Hamilton (a constitutional lawyer whose area of interest is church state issues) and I discussed "Holding clergy and church leaders legally accountable for child abuse," at:
http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2010/04/12/holding-clergy-and-church-leaders-legally-accountable-for-child-abuse/
An earlier reflection published in NCR on March 29, 2010 on my connecting flight from Washington to Philadelphia, "What a difference a week makes," at:
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/what-difference-week-makes
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
Incredible
ReplyDeletemaybe the catholic church can be forced to adopt a policy that demands putting a large warning sign out side every catholic church
ReplyDeleteMAY BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILDREN..
also ignorant catholic parents need to know that it is not safe to leave their children alone with clergy.. that just because someone claims to be called by God doesnt make them trustworthy