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  Priest Abuse Victims" Advocates Agree..

By Peter Smith
The Courier-Journal
May 18, 2011

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110518/REPOSITORY/305180151/Priest-abuse-victims-advocates-agree-national-report-say-bishops-escape-criticism?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Local victims' advocates say a new report correctly dismisses some theories about the causes of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

But they say it fails to hold bishops accountable for their role in enabling abusers to reoffend in new assignments.

"I definitely agree … it's not homosexuality or the celibacy," said Jeff Koenig of the local chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "But … it focuses more on the perpetrators instead of the bishops who are probably a bigger contributing factor than the actual abusers themselves for cycling them in and out of parishes where they have more access to kids."

Koenig was among 243 plaintiffs who in 2003 shared in what was then a near-record settlement of $25.7 million after filing suit against the Archdiocese of Louisville. The plaintiffs received average payouts ranging $26,666 to $153,510.

Contact: psmith@courier-journal.com

 
 

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