FORT WORTH (TX)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By DARREN BARBEE
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
FORT WORTH -- Fort Worth Diocese records show that officials shielded eight priests accused of sexual abuse, didn't tell police of victims' allegations, and assigned and reassigned "known abusers," according to a sworn statement filed Wednesday in state district court.
The statement was prepared by the Rev. Thomas Doyle, a virulent critic of the church's handling of the national clergy sexual abuse crisis who reviewed the records last year.
"The Fort Worth Diocese has engaged in the patterned cover-up of clergy abuse by these eight priests," Doyle said.
A Fort Worth Roman Catholic Diocese official, who was faxed a copy of the statement by the Star-Telegram, had no comment Wednesday.
Doyle's statement, along with statements from eight victims and another expert, were filed Wednesday as part of ongoing legal efforts to unseal the files of seven priests accused of sexual misconduct. A hearing is set next week in state District Judge Len Wade's court to determine whether the files should be opened.