YAKIMA (WA)
Yakima Herald-Republic
By JANE GARGAS
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
A former employee of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima is still waiting for a response to his lawsuit alleging he was wrongfully discharged from his job.
Robert Fontana filed suit in Yakima County Superior Court in August, about a week before he resigned from his position as director of evangelism for the diocese.
Gary Lofland, Fontana's attorney, returned to court Tuesday, arguing that the diocese was ignoring the suit, and requested a January court date.
"We're disheartened that the Catholic church and its spiritual leader, Bishop Carlos Sevilla, won't acknowledge that there is a strong public policy to protect children from sexual abuse," Lofland said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Noting that the new motions are procedural in nature, Robert Boggs, attorney for the diocese, said Fontana's lawsuit will probably be answered next week.
He declined to comment further, saying he didn't have the authority to speak for the diocese.
Sevilla issued a news release Wednesday, saying the lawsuit, which he believes is without merit and not based on fact, will be defended against vigorously.
Lofland contends that Fontana was forced to leave his job because he was critical of how the diocese was applying its policy on clergy sexual misconduct with vulnerable people.