HAWAII
The Worthy Adversary
Posted by Joelle Casteix on March 5, 2013
Active priest, Diocese of Honolulu accused of child sex crimes
Two ex-Damien students expose him in abuse lawsuit
Bishop Silva has known, done little about allegations
Despite ‘zero tolerance,” bishop refuses to remove, punish predator
Bishop Silva must oust priest, warn parishioners, group says
Predator is “ticking time bomb” for abuse, they claim
What:
Holding signs and/or photos of themselves when they were abused, child sex abuse victims and their supporters will announce that a long-time Catholic priest and the Diocese of Honolulu have been named in a sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit. The lawsuit says that Fr. George DeCosta:
•Sexually abused two boys while at Damien Memorial School, and
•Continues to live and act as a priest on the Big Island.
They will also ask Honolulu Bishop Clarence Silva to:
•Explain why DeCosta still lives and acts as a priest,
•Tell why he has covered up accusations against DeCosta,
•Obey directives from US Cardinals demanding “zero tolerance,”
•Immediately remove DeCosta’s priestly faculties, and
•Personally visit every parish, school and facility where he worked and reach out to others he may have hurt.
Where: Outside of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, 1184 Bishop Street in Honolulu
When: Wednesday, March 6 at 11:30 am
Who: Members and supporters of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, the nation’s largest support group for men and women sexually abused as children in religious and institutional organizations, including a California woman who is the group’s Western Regional Director
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