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  Man Suing over Ottawa Clergy Abuse Put up to It by Lawyer, Diocese Says

Ottawa Citizen
June 11, 2009

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Life/suing+over+Ottawa+clergy+abuse+lawyer+diocese+says/1686430/story.html

OTTAWA — A day after a former altar boy announced he's suing Ottawa's Roman Catholic archdiocese over his abuse at the hands of a priest, the archbishop's spokesman suggested the man is only suing because a lawyer wants him to.

An Ottawa man who can only be identified as "Alex" filed suit for $2 million this week over claims he was assaulted by Rev. Dale Crampton, then the pastor at St. Maurice Church on Percy Street, beginning in 1982. In 1986, Crampton pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting seven altar boys. Four years later the archdiocese paid $150,000 to the families of three of the boys, but Alex said in a Wednesday news conference that he was unaware of the settlement and has never had so much as an apology from the church.

Msgr. Kevin Beach, the archdiocese's vicar general, said in a written statement Thursday that the church "is committed to a process of justice, healing and reconciliation for the victims of clergy abuse."

"The current case — which was the subject of [Alex's] news conference — was made known to us, for the first time, the day before (Tuesday) when we were served with notice of his lawsuit," Beach said. "I would think that it was at his lawyer's urging that this gentleman decided to launch a lawsuit, rather than communicate with us directly."

Beach spoke on behalf of Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, the statement says.

The diocese is asking other victims to call the diocese at 613-738-5025, "to initiate the process which includes access to independent legal advice."

Alex's lawyer Robert Talach asks anyone with information about the Crampton case to call him at 1-866-674-4994 to leave an anonymous message or to e-mail rtalach@ledroitbeckett.com

 
 

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