February 24, 2006

New suit filed against diocese

ROCKFORD (IL)
Rockford Register Star

By Edith C. Webster
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man who says a now-deceased priest abused him when he was 13 years old filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Catholic Diocese of Rockford.

In a suit seeking damages in excess of $50,000, Donald Bondick says he was repeatedly abused by the Rev. Ted Feeley.

The abuse allegedly took place in 1969, when Feeley was a priest at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Rockford.

“He was a friend, a mentor and someone I looked up to,” the retired postal worker said. “I kept silent for 33 years. After depression, suicide attempts and addictions — it’s a hard road.”

The lawsuit is new, but the allegations were made public in 2002, when St. Anthony parishioners were told about claims against Feeley made by two men.

Posted by kshaw at February 24, 2006 07:44 AM