Former Springfield Bishops Video Deposition Made Public, by Ray Hershel, WGGB, July 21, 2010

Former Springfield Bishop's Video Deposition Made Public

By Ray Hershel
WGGB
July 21, 2010

[ RAW VIDEO: Deposition of Bishop Thomas Dupre]

[RAW VIDEO: Deposition of Bishop Dupre PART 2]

http://www.wggb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12835469

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) -- The videotaped deposition of former Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Bishop Thomas Dupre has been released.

Greenfield attorney John Stobierski released the tape. Stobierski is representing Andrew Nicastro of Williamstown, who has filed a lawsuit against Dupre and other church supervisors for allegedly not properly overseeing former priest Alfred Graves, whom Nicastro claims molested him.

Outside of giving his name, and date and place of birth, Dupre didn't say much except to repeatedly invoke his 5th Amendment rights to remain silent.

A typical response went like this:

Stobierski: At any time while you were a member of the clergy did you become aware of sexual activity between clergy and minors?

Former Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Bishop Thomas Dupre sits during a taped deposition, during which he repeatedly refused to answer questions.

Dupre: I assert my right to refuse to answer.

In fact, Dupre invoked his 5th Amendment rights some 230 times during the three-hour deposition, which was conduced in April in Washington, D.C.

Dupre's attorney Michael Jennings advised his client not to answer.

"The man has certain rights and privileges, upon my advise, strong advise, which he took, he refused to answer questions because of any effect it might have on a collateral matter that is not part of this lawsuit," said Jennings.

That collateral matter was the criminal investigation in 2004 involving the alleged molesting of two boys, but the charges were dropped because the statute of limitations had run out.

Stobierski said the videotape needs to be aired.

"This controversy has been involved in secrecy from the get go and it is the policy of advocates for survivors not to keep things secret. This is a bishop who fought the survivors early on and when accused he vanished in the darkness of night and hasn't been heard from since my conversation with him," said Stobierski.