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  Attorney: Documents Shed Light on Church Abuse

By Eric English
ABC 15
April 20, 2011

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northern_az/other/attorney%3A-documents-shed-light-on-church-abuse

A small protest was held outside of a Catholic church in Kingman Tuesday afternoon.

The group behind the protest is calling for changes in the way the Catholic church deals with abuse during the holiest of weeks.

"He died for our sins. I think that includes the sins of the church, and if there's a time for the church to come forward to ask for forgiveness, it's this week," Attorney Robert Pastor said.

One of the protest organizers, Joe Baca is writing a book about the abuse he says happened to him while he was a boy living in rural northern Arizona.

Baca said paperwork that was recently turned over to lawyers in a similar abuse case confirms his claims of wrongdoing.

"I've got the documentation now, which I have known for years what he did. He did it to me with several other victims," he said.

Attorneys tell me the paperwork filed in court contains letters dating back to the 50s, and shows a deep-rooted cover-up of abuses.

"In one letter, the priest himself admits to sexually abusing boys," Pastor said.

Attorneys tell ABC15 the release of the paperwork will help build future cases, and validates older ones, helping the victims heal.

"What this does for other victims is it lets them know that they are not alone. That they are not making this up and it confirms once again that this particular church is protecting priests," Pastor said.

 
 

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