New Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Filed against Diocese of Winona

WXOW
January 6, 2016

http://www.wxow.com/story/30900598/2016/01/06/new-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-filed-against-diocese-of-winona

A new civil lawsuit has been filed against the Diocese of Winona, alleging sexual abuse of a teenager in 1962.

The Hamilton James law group filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the victim. A criminal complaint says Fr. Richard Hatch was a priest at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Winona when he allegedly sexually abused a boy who was 13 or 14 years old at the time.

The complaint alleges the Diocese knew about Hatch's behavior, but did not not address the misconduct.

This lawsuit follows several claims of sexual abuse by priests who have served the Diocese of Winona. Hatch, who died in 2005, was one of 14 priests named by the Diocese in December 2013 in a list of those with credible accusations against them.