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	More Clergy Abuse Files Turn up in FW Lawyer in Civil Case Outraged over Diocese's Failure to Admit Papers By Brooks Egerton Dallas Morning News [Fort Worth TX] February 7, 2007 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/020807dnmetfwdiocese.13fafa9.html The Fort Worth Catholic Diocese acknowledged Wednesday the existence of more clergy sexual abuse files that its officials failed to surrender under a civil court order. The disclosure outraged Dallas lawyer Tahira Khan Merritt, who was supposed to have received documents in late 2004 on all accused priests who had worked in the diocese. She was suing at the time over the actions of one priest but alleged a broader pattern of cover-up – a cover-up that has since been borne out by documents The Dallas Morning News obtained in November, after a 19-month court fight. "I would hope that judges and criminal prosecutors see this for what it is – an abuse of our judicial process – and take action now," Ms. Merritt said. "I would urge the Tarrant County district attorney to arrive at the diocese offices with a search warrant." The diocese's No. 2 official, the Rev. Michael Olson, said he did not know why his predecessors failed to surrender the files. "We'll continue to try to deal honestly with each of these sad incidents with as much compassion and forthrightness as we can," he said. Diocese officials are continuing to review personnel files and may have more disclosures on the way, he said, adding that the review could take one to two more months. The bishop in 2004 was Joseph Delaney, who has since died. His top aides have been replaced and have not commented publicly on the cover-ups. The latest disclosure involves the late Rev. James Fitzpatrick, who Father Olson said was accused in early 2004 of abusing a minor for "several years" in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Father Olson declined to elaborate beyond saying that Father Fitzpatrick was working then at a parish in Wichita Falls and died in 1974. In December, the diocese disclosed the existence of another file that was not turned over to Ms. Merritt. It concerned the Rev. Gilbert Pansza, who was still on the job – also in Wichita Falls – despite having admitted sexually abusing a child. The Dallas Diocese has previously paid settlements to at least two accusers of Father Fitzpatrick, records show. One case came in the mid-1990s, during litigation involving another priest, and another in 2005. Mike Robinson was the accuser in the latter case. He said Father Fitzpatrick abused him and other boys repeatedly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he worked at parishes in Dallas. E-mail: begerton@dallasnews.com
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