PHOENIX (AZ)
ABC 15
February 11, 2020
By Mike Pelton
Two new lawsuits filed Tuesday claim sexual abuse by former priests in Phoenix.
The lawsuits, filed by unnamed plaintiffs, allege abuse by priests at St. Mark Roman Catholic Parish in Phoenix, when they were stationed there in the late 1970s and early 1980’s. The lawsuit names the Diocese of Phoenix, among others.
“That’s what these lawsuits are about,” said Jeff Anderson, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “The Catholic Diocese and the head of the Salvatorian order transferring these priests and allowing predators access to kids.”
Anderson said the lawsuits are the direct result of a new Arizona law signed last year, allowing additional opportunities for victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits.
“We want the lawsuits to allow the full disclosure of all the offenders known to the top officials that have been hidden and kept secret,” Anderson said.
One of the lawsuits involves allegations against Fr. Joseph Henn. He was caught in Italy last year and brought back to Arizona, after he disappeared in 2005 while facing sexual abuse charges, according to the Diocese of Phoenix.
The other lawsuit names two priests who attorneys for the plaintiffs say have not been publicly accused before. They are Fr. Donald Verhagen and Fr. James Bretl. Both have since passed away.
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