BishopAccountability.org

Abuse victims file civil suit

By Blair County
We Are Central PA
June 21, 2016

http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/abuse-victims-file-civil-suit

[with video]

Two more victims of child sexual abuse are now coming forward and they've filed a civil lawsuit against the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.
 
Two sisters say they were molested by Father Charles Bodziak starting at only eight and nine years old. 
 
They say Bodziak used alcohol to abuse them for years.
 
Renee Rice and Cheryl Haun are filing the civil suit, calling out the diocese as a whole, Bishop Joseph Adamec, Monsignor Michael Servinksy who is executor of the late Bishop James Hogan, and Father Charles Bodziak.
 
Attorney Richard Serbin says he expects the diocese will claim the statute of limitations has run out. But he says there are other factors to this case, like fraud, that would support the civil suit.
 
Three bishops allegedly knew Bodziak was a child predator but continued to allow him to serve as a priest, moving him to different parishes when necessary.
 
Bodziak was most recently serving at Saint Michael's church.  
 
Bishop Mark Bartchak removed him in January.
 
The grand jury report naming Bodziak as a child predator came out in March.




.


Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.