BishopAccountability.org
	Sex-Abuse Lawsuits Proceed Archdiocese of Denver Sought to End Action in Cases of Two Priests By Electa Draper Denver Post September 14, 2007 http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6887582 The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday rejected a motion by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver to end litigation of 40-year-old sexual-abuse cases against two priests. Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput had asked the court to intervene in the litigation process so that about 15 cases from the 1960s and 1970s against Harold White and the late Leonard Abercrombie would not proceed in trial courts because of timeliness issues. "The archdiocese continues to believe that lawsuits are not the best way to help all involved," the archdiocese said a statement Thursday. "During this appeal, and throughout the litigation, the archdiocese has settled with many of the plaintiffs, and will continue to try to help victims of sexual abuse," the statement said. The archdiocese statement said that the court's order will not affect its legal defense in the cases. "When child sex-abuse victims have a chance to get in the courtroom, predators are exposed, parents are warned, kids are protected, and the truth finally surfaces," said Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul, Minn., lawyer representing victims in the cases. The archdiocese has declined to disclose the number or terms of out-of-court settlements, but attorneys involved in the case have said roughly a third of about 30 plaintiffs have reached agreements or were working toward them. "Gradually, more judges are realizing that children can't recognize and report sex crimes immediately. The survivors of these heinous crimes need time to understand and overcome their trauma," said Marci Hamilton, a professor with the Princeton University Program in Law and Public Affairs. A statement from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests called the ruling the second big setback for Colorado's Catholic officials. Last year, a federal judge rejected a bid by the archdiocese to move the lawsuits from state to federal court. "It's sad every time a Catholic bishop tries to exploit legal technicalities to protect himself from tough questioning in court," SNAP spokesman David Clohessy said. Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.