Portland Diocese reaches settlement with alleged sex abuse victims

WMTW
August 15, 2016

http://www.wmtw.com/news/portland-diocese-reaches-settlement-with-alleged-sex-abuse-victims/41204934

A lawyer says a newly revealed letter indicating Roman Catholic Church officials knew a Maine priest was allegedly abusing children in 1956 opens the door to lawsuits by additional victims.

BOSTON —The Portland Diocese has reached a settlement with six plaintiffs in a lawsuit related to sexual abuse and what the diocese knew and when, according to a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit centers around a letter written by a priest in 2005 which indicates then-Bishop Daniel Feeney knew of allegations of sexual abuse against Father James Vallely earlier than previously stated.

Six men, from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, claimed Vallely sexually abused them from 1958 to 1977 when they were between the ages of 8 and 15.

Vallely died in 1997. He worked in parishes in Bangor, Portland and South Berwick. The lawyer for the plaintiffs, Michael Garabedian, said instead of removing Vallely from St. John’s Parish in Bangor, the diocese transferred him to another parish.

The diocese confirmed the settlement to WMTW News 8.   "The diocese hopes that this settlement brings a measure of peace to the people involved," communications director Dave Guthro said in a statement. "The diocese respects the privacy and confidentiality of the victims/survivors involved in cases of sexual abuse of minors by clerics. We maintain that privacy and confidentiality even if an individual or their legal representation chooses to discuss their situation publicly," Guthro wrote.

The diocese previously said it knew of credible allegations against Vallely. In an April 2015 statement, current Bishop Robert Deeley said, “Mistakes were made in the past and the failure to deal with this problem in a more forthright manner gravely harmed those who were abused. We do not want to forget. Remembering keeps us vigilant in our effort to reform. We cannot change the past, but we can do everything possible to see that history does not repeat itself.”

The statute of limitations on sexual abuse charges against Vallely has expired. The plaintiffs filed a fraudulent concealment lawsuit.

WMTW News 8 has reached out to the Portland Diocese for comment.