BishopAccountability.org

READ THE COMPLAINT: Class action 
abuse lawsuit 
names bishops 
and Vatican

By Dave Sutor
Tribune-Democrat
November 14, 2018

https://bit.ly/2RTnVk1

Shaun Dougherty poses during an interview on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at The Tribune-Democrat, 425 Locust St., Johnstown. Doughtery claims that he was sexually abused by the former Rev. George Koharchik, a priest from St. Clement Church. Koharchik was included in a 2016 grand jury report that detailed abuse across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

[with pdf]

A Westmont resident is one of six named plaintiffs in a federal class action civil suit filed Tuesday against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Holy See.

Shaun Dougherty, an alleged victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a priest within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, has joined the lawsuit that is about the alleged “endemic, systemic, rampant, and pervasive rape and sexual abuse of Plaintiffs and Class Members” perpetrated by cardinals, bishops, monsignors, priests, sisters, lay leaders and members of church orders, according to the document, obtained late Tuesday by The Tribune-Democrat.

Plaintiffs also argue that the alleged abuse and coverup constitutes a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act case, because multiple alleged violations involved the federal mail and wire fraud.

In the case, which was brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Holy See is identified in its capacity as a foreign state – Vatican City – and as an unincorporated association and head of an international religious organization.

There are 14 counts, including conspiracy, assault, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs are seeking actual, consequential, compensatory, economic, punitive and RICO treble damages, along with declaratory and injunctive relief and legal fees.

“I've waited my entire adult life to do something like this,” said Dougherty, who is one of more than 100 class members in the suit. “This is something that I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do.”

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General released a report providing details of an alleged decades-long coverup by the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese to protect predator priests. Dougherty believes his abuse was mentioned in that report, albeit with a redacted name. Since then, he has been an outspoken advocate for victims, talking to countless news outlets.

Dougherty said participating in the class action suit “was offered to me through an associate that I know, through an advocate that I know, that I've met over the last couple years because of the publicity and things that I've been getting. It was brought to my attention.”

The action was filed late in the afternoon, according to Dougherty, who passed along the information to The Tribune-Democrat around 9 p.m.

No effort could be made to reach the defendants before press time.

Contact: dsutor@tribdem.com




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