January 06, 2006

Dubuque Archdiocese releases report on clergy abuse

DES MOINES (IA)
Sioux City Journal

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque said in a report that 20 lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of children have been filed in recent months involving eight priests.

The annual report, dated Jan. 4, summarizes activities involving allegations of abuse in the past year and names the priests.

Lawsuits have been filed in recent months against the archdiocese in connection with the Revs. Albert Carman, Albert Forster, William Goltz, Patrick McElliott, John Peters, William Roach, John Schmitz and William Schwartz, the report said.

Carman, Forster, McElliott, Peters, Roach and Schmitz are dead.

Goltz, 80, who had several allegations of abuse logded against him is prohibited by the Vatican from celebrating Mass or administering sacraments publicly and from wearing clerical garb or presenting himself publicly as a priest. He was named in three lawsuits filed last year.

Posted by kshaw at January 6, 2006 07:47 AM