Bishop Must Be Called to Testify about Sex Abuse He's Never Spoken under Oath before about Such Cases, Lawyers Say, by Rachanee Srisavasdi, Orange County Register, September 5, 2007

Bishop Must Be Called to Testify about Sex Abuse
He's Never Spoken under Oath before about Such Cases, Lawyers Say

By Rachanee Srisavasdi
Orange County Register
September 5, 2007

http://www.ocregister.com/news/diocese-abuse-brown-1839438-sex-andrade

Bishop Tod Brown must testify about his knowledge regarding past childhood sex-abuse cases in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The deposition, ordered as part of ongoing litigation in a sex-abuse case, would be the first time Brown has ever spoken under oath regarding what he knew about such claims, lawyers on the case said.

At a glance

Background: A 26-year-old woman, identified in court as "Jane C.R. Doe," sued the Diocese of Orange, Mater Dei High School and former assistant basketball coach Jeff Andrade in July 2005, alleging he sexually abused her for two years starting in 1995.

What's next: A judge Friday will rule on the scope of the pending depositions of top church officials, including Bishop Tod Brown. The depositions will be taken starting Saturday. Trial is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Bishop Tod D. Brown

A now-26-year-old woman, who is identified as "C.R. Doe" in court, is suing the diocese, Mater Dei High School and the school's former assistant basketball coach Jeff Andrade, accusing him of sexual abuse for two years, starting in 1995. The trial is set for Sept. 17.

Andrade, who no longer works at the diocese, has admitted to having sex with the then-student.

The lawsuit is the first childhood sex-abuse claim in Orange County since the diocese's $100 million settlement with about 90 claimants.

In April, the woman's attorneys won the right to expand their inquiry into other sex-abuse claims at the diocese from 1988 to 2001 when Andrade worked for the diocese. They wanted to ask about other suspected sex abusers to see if Andrade got preferential treatment.

On Wednesday, retired Superior Court Judge Robert Jameson ordered the woman's attorneys to interview Brown, former Bishop Norman McFarland, the diocese's general counsel Maria Schinderle and Father Michael McKiernan, who is Brown's secretary, plaintiff's lawyers said.

Jameson will decide Friday on the scope of the depositions, which will begin Saturday, said attorney Venus Soltan.

"The way the Catholic Church is structured, people report to the bishop, " Soltan said. "He is the one ultimately responsible for the diocese."

Diocese lawyers opposed the depositions and said they were unnecessary. Ryan Lilyengren, diocese spokesman, said the diocese does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Contact the writer: (714) 834-3773 or rsrisavasdi@ocregister.com