June 07, 2005

Priest abuse lawsuits tossed

WISCONSIN
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

By DERRICK NUNNALLY
dnunnally@journalsentinel.com
Posted: June 6, 2005

In a decision one critic derided as making Wisconsin an "underground railroad" for abusive priests, a judge on Monday threw out two fraud lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee over alleged 1970s molestations by Father Siegfried Widera, a priest later accused of abuse in California and who killed himself in 2003.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Michael D. Guolee ruled that the statute of limitations had run out on the claimed assaults, said to have happened between 1973 and 1976. The attorney for the three plaintiffs contended the clock began running only when news reports on Widera's suicide discussed the priest's 1973 felony conviction.

"The plaintiffs had a duty to act on their claims when they were discovered," Guolee said, "and they were discovered no later than the last act (of sexual abuse)."

Shortly afterward, Peter Isely, Midwest director for the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said Wisconsin was "alone in the nation" in restricting such claims and said the state needs a law allowing a one- or two-year window for victims of past clergy sex abuse to sue without being subject to statutes of limitations.

"Effectively, Wisconsin law is the underground railroad for pedophile clergy and those who cover up for them," Isely said.

Posted by kshaw at June 7, 2005 05:49 AM