April 01, 2006

2 brothers settle abuse case for over $1 million

SEATTLE (WA)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

P-I STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

Two brothers who accused former Seattle priest John Cornelius of repeatedly molesting them as teenagers during the 1970s have settled their case against the Seattle Archdiocese for more than $1 million.

The brothers had planned to go to trial against the archdiocese in June. Similar charges they made against the diocese of Boise, Idaho, and the Order of the Sulpicians -- both of which hosted Cornelius -- remain unresolved and scheduled for court.

"What's interesting about the case is Cornelius went from Boise to the Sulpician seminary to the Seattle Archdiocese and, despite knowledge that he was a problem, nobody took steps to address it," said Michael Pfau, a lawyer who represented the brothers.

Cornelius has since been defrocked by the Vatican.

Posted by kshaw at April 1, 2006 10:22 AM