BishopAccountability.org
	Whistleblower Priest's Lawsuit Dismissed By Matt C. Abbott Renew America [Miami FL] August 29, 2005 A May 2005 lawsuit filed on behalf of the Rev. Andrew Dowgiert against the Archdiocese of Miami was dismissed on August 25. The suit alleges that Dowgiert was terminated for complaining to the archdiocese about sexual and financial improprieties allegedly committed by certain archdiocesan clergy. To read the text of the lawsuit, click on the following link: http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/abbott/050521. Sharon Bourassa, an attorney representing Dowgiert, sent the following e-mail on August 29 to the priest's supporters (slightly edited): "At the hearing ... the court dismissed Fr. Dowgiert's case against the archdiocese. The court said that it did not want to get involved in a Church dispute. This means that Fr. Dowgiert will have to make the decision to appeal the lower court's ruling. "The result is not totally surprising since most of these Church cases go to the level of appeal. However, it is sad because the court could have very easily ruled that it had jurisdiction. "This ruling does not mean anything other than the court does not want to rule on a Church issue. We argued that the Church is not immune from civil actions involving some wrongdoing. "It has come to my attention that Fr. [Anibal] Morales has announced at Masses that he has been vindicated. The court's ruling did no such thing. It did not even get into the merits of the case. The ruling was based on a technicality: whether it had jurisdiction or whether the Church had it. "I will let you all know what is next."
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