TheDenverChannel.com
September 13, 2007
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14109809/detail.html
Denver — A series of lawsuits alleging Roman Catholic priests sexually abused youngsters may proceed after the Colorado Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from the Archdiocese of Denver.
In a ruling issued Monday and made public Thursday, the high court, without comment, rejected the archdiocese's claim a Denver district judge should have dismissed the 11 lawsuits because the plaintiffs waited too long to file suit. The judge earlier ruled the statute of limitations did not apply in the cases.
The plaintiffs said they now can proceed with getting statements from church officials and establishing a schedule
for evidence exchange.
"We certainly see this as a major victory for victims of Colorado," said Miami attorney Jeff Herman, who represents some of the plaintiffs.
In an e-mailed statement, the archdiocese said the Supreme Court's decision will not change its legal defense against the 40-year-old claims. "The archdiocese continues to believe that lawsuits are not the best way to help all involved," said the statement, which noted church officials have settled similar claims out of court.
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The cases at issue accuse the archdiocese of negligence in supervising two priests, concealing abuse allegations lodged against them and failing to protect children.
One priest was Harold R. White, who was removed from public ministry in 1993 and left the priesthood in 2004. He died of a heart attack in November.
The other was the Rev. Leonard Abercrombie, who died in 1994. Abercrombie was sent to California in 1976, and the Los Angeles Archdiocese has said Abercrombie was accused twice of abusing minors there.
Herman said the Supreme Court's decision also should be viewed favorably in 20 similar cases pending against the Archdiocese of Pueblo.
At least 18 people who said they were sexually abused have settled their claims against the archdiocese for a total of at least $1.6 million.
Fifteen plaintiffs made similar accusations, that archdiocese officials knew of abuse allegations against White and Abercrombie but neglected to shield the children. The other three didn't sue but approached the church directly seeking to settle claims, the archdiocese said at the time.
A representative of the Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests was pleased with the decision. Bob Brancato told 7NEWS that the decision will force the Archdiocese to open up its records and reveal if it moved troubled priests from parish to parish. He said, "You can't just cut a check and expect someone to be healed."
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