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  Appeals Court Says Case against Church, Ex-Priest Can Go on

WSBT
April 11, 2008

http://www.wsbt.com/news/indiana/17554674.html

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A lawsuit that claims a former Catholic priest sexually abused a boy and that an archdiocese covered up his prior history of sexual abuse can move forward, the state appeals court has ruled.

The court in a two-page order declined to hear an appeal by lawyers for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

The claim names as defendants the archdiocese and Harry Monroe, a former Catholic priest accused of molesting numerous boys between 1974 and 1984 at churches in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and southern Indiana's Perry County. It said the archdiocese committed fraud by deceiving members of an Indianapolis parish into believing Monroe was suited for ministry to young boys.

"Placing a priest in a church with access to children in a way represents to a parish that the priest is safe," said Patrick Noaker, the attorney representing the victim.

Archdiocese attorneys claim that the alleged victim waited too long to take legal action and that his case should be dismissed.

A spokesman for the archdiocese, Greg Otolski, reacted to Monday's appeals decision by saying, "I think there are probably still several steps in the legal process."

Monroe has given a deposition in which he admitted lewd behavior or sex acts with several boys in various parishes where he served in Indiana.

Monroe now lives near Nashville, Tenn.

 
 

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