September 12, 2005

Suit Claims Diocese Of Orlando Knew Of Alleged Sexual Abuse By Priest

ORLANDO (FL)
Local6.com

POSTED: 1:03 pm EDT September 12, 2005
UPDATED: 3:02 pm EDT September 12, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Diocese of Orlando is faced with another controversy over alleged sexual abuse by a former priest, Local 6 News has learned.

Two men sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando for negligence Monday, saying they were molested by a priest who had been allowed to continue working in central Florida churches even after a previous allegation of abuse was made.

Both men, now in their 40s, are seeking more than $5 million each for what they describe in the lawsuits as severe psychological injuries caused by Vernon Uhran in the 1970s.

Uhran was removed from the diocese in 1992 after an allegation of sexual abuse was made against him, said Carol Brinati, a spokeswoman for the diocese.

Brinati said that since the diocese hadn't yet been served with the lawsuits she couldn't comment on them. She didn't know where Uhran currently lives, and an Orlando phone number for Uhran was disconnected.

Posted by kshaw at September 12, 2005 02:49 PM