JACKSON (MS)
The Sun Herald
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON - The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the First Amendment does not prohibit lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Jackson over allegations of sexual abuse by priests.
Three brothers filed a $48 million lawsuit in Hinds County Circuit Court in 2002. They claimed they were abused by a priest more than 30 years ago. The trial had been on hold while the Supreme Court considered the diocese's motion for dismissal.
The diocese argued that the separation of church and state makes the church autonomous and that certain church documents are privileged.
Posted by kshaw at May 6, 2005 05:16 AM