PENNSYLVANIA
Daily Times
By TIMOTHY LOGUE
tlogue@delcotimes.com
@timothylogue
Nine alleged victims of clergy abuse have filed eight lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Cardinal Justin Rigali, the Rev. Msgr. William Lynn and seven individual priests and former priests, including two with ties to Delaware County.
Attorney Jeff Anderson and co-counsels Marci Hamilton and Dan Monahan announced the filings at a 1 p.m. press conference in Center City.
“Bringing these cases is important because until there is accountability it is difficult to begin a journey of healing,” said Anderson, who is also representing victims of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. “With the filing of these cases today, these courageous survivors can start to heal.”
Priests named as defendants in the lawsuits include Edward Avery, a defrocked priest who ministered at St. Bernadette Church in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby from June 1970 to June 1972 and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Chester from 1972 to 1976 and the Rev. John P. Schmeer, a former pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Haverford Township who also had ties to St. Anastasia School in Newtown Square.
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