February 09, 2006

Advocates say diocese lied about Soens

DAVENPORT (IA)
Quad-City Times

By Dustin Lemmon |

Some sexual abuse victims and their supporters say they were lied to last week when told the Catholic Diocese of Davenport never investigated allegations of sexual abuse against retired Bishop Lawrence D. Soens.

They also are angry about the conclusion the diocese came to after completing an investigation, which found Soens’ actions were inappropriate but may not have constituted sexual abuse.

Ann Green, of DeWitt, Iowa, whose husband is the victim of sexual abuse by a priest, said they were told during a meeting a week ago with the Iowa Catholic bishops in Des Moines that Soens never was investigated for abuse.

Soens retired as bishop of the Sioux City Diocese and was once principal of Regina High School in Iowa City in addition to holding a post at St. Ambrose University during the 1980s. A motion filed Monday in Scott County District Court by Craig Levien, a Davenport attorney representing three men in lawsuits against Soens, includes as an exhibit an undated investigation report to Bishop William Franklin of the Davenport Diocese.

Posted by kshaw at February 9, 2006 07:01 AM