UNITED STATES
The Conservative Voice
By Matt C. Abbott
August 25, 2005 11:39 AM EST
In July 2004, former seminarian Philip Hower filed a RICO suit against several Catholic bishops and dioceses, alleging that his ordination was blocked because he had blown the whistle on the activities of certain corrupt clergy.
(See: http://www.cruxnews.com/rose/rose-23july04.html)
A settlement in this case was reached on August 18, 2005. The exact terms of the settlement have not been released.
Hower's attorney, Ivan Abrams, issued the following statement (edited):
"After years of litigation, opposition, and frustration, plaintiffs Philip A. Hower and his mother, Meta Hower, settled their racketeering (RICO) lawsuit against the Dioceses of Tucson, Harrisburg, Columbus, and others, as well as against a number of prominent bishops, including Keeler and Kicanas.
"The suit alleged that the Roman Catholic Church in North America has conducted itself for years through a pattern of racketeering activity based upon fraud and obstruction of justice. These activities were designed according to the suit, to protect the Church from the ramifications of the sexual perversions and assaults committed by some of its priests. Documents filed in court set forth a scheme where pervert priests were transferred from diocese to diocese, provided with stipends and never turned over to the police or civil authorities.