PENNSYLVANIA
The Patriot-News
Thursday, August 25, 2005
BY MARY WARNER
Of The Patriot-News
An $18,000 settlement has ended a federal suit in Arizona that accused the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and 23 other defendants of protecting sexual abusers.
The diocese was ready "to defend vigorously against this lawsuit," said the Rev. William King, judicial vicar, but "it would be more costly to pursue even a pretrial dismissal" than to join the settlement. The diocese's contribution was $4,500.
In the 2004 suit, Philip Hower, 46, of Tucson, claimed that he was blocked from the priesthood for reporting priests' sexual advances toward him and to others in Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Six dioceses and 18 clergy were defendants -- including Cardinal William Keeler and Bishop Wilton Gregory, former president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Most of the suit involved the Tucson diocese.
Posted by kshaw at August 25, 2005 07:31 AM