September 26, 2005

Group collects info on former Vigo priest

TERRE HAUT (IN)
Tribune-Star

By Stephanie Salter/Tribune-Star

The former Rev. Harry Monroe hasn't served in St. Patrick's parish in Terre Haute since 1981, but members of a national advocacy group for the victims of abuse by priests went house-to-house in the neighborhood Friday in hopes of refreshing people's memory about the one-time youth minister.

Their primary aim is to gather as much information as possible about Monroe, who is a defendant in two lawsuits recently filed in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis on behalf of two of his alleged victims.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is the other defendant.

According to an archdiocesean spokeswoman, Monroe's priestly faculties were revoked in 1984 because of sexual misconduct allegations, and he appears to have had no contact with its office since 1991.

"Since the first lawsuit was filed [Sept. 9], we've been trying to find him," said Susan Borcherts of the archdiocese communications office.

Posted by kshaw at September 26, 2005 04:34 PM