IOWA
KWWL
Members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests rallied outside St. Joseph's in Key West with a clear message to Archbishop Jerome Hanus and the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
"To not use hardball legal tactics when it comes to fighting the lawsuits." said local group founder Steve Theisen.
The group is unhappy the Archdiocese is fighting a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by NBC News Correspondent Jim Cummins. "W e believe he has every right to defend the Archdiocese and his priests but we do not believe he has the moral right with some of the tactics he is using." added Theisen.
In the documents filed last week, church leaders claim Cummins, who was 17 when the alleged incidents occured in 1962, was actually an adult. They also say Cummins alleged perpetrator Monsignor William Roach, was an independent contractor, not a church employee.