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  Diocese Wins Court Decision against Anonymous Couple

WROC
March 26, 2009

http://rochesterhomepage.net/content/fulltext/?cid=79872

The Diocese of Rochester has won a lawsuit brought forward by an anonymous couple, claiming that a priest took advantage of the wife.

The New York Court of Appeals dismissed the suit brought forward by John and Jane Doe. The Does claimed the Diocese failed to properly supervise Father Peter DeBellis, who was the priest at Our Mother of Sorrows church.

Jane Doe claimed that she began counseling with Father DeBellis in 2000, and struck up a sexual relationship that lasted more than three years. It was alleged that the relationship continued despite complaints by John Doe to the Diocese, and even after Father DeBellis was transferred to another church.

The court ruled that Jane Doe was not "uniquely vulnerable and incapable of self-protection," which had to be proven for the couple to win the case. Previous rulings had gone against the Diocese and the priest.

 
 

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