BishopAccountability.org
	Archdiocese Asks That Names of Sex Abuse Accusers Should Be Made Public The Oregonian October 23, 2007 http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/10/archdiocese_asks_that_names_of.html A historic bankruptcy settlement reached six months ago did not end the bitterness between the Archdiocese of Portland and those who say they were the victims of clergy sexual abuse. Federal court documents filed recently by the archdiocese say that a new group of priest accusers have no right to file lawsuits under pseudonyms after coordinating with the media in an effort to seek wide exposure of their inflammatory accusations. "This calculated, public disclosure, timed to maximize its effectiveness in generating a news story before the archdiocese could respond to a lawsuit filing, deprives plaintiff of any valid claim about a need for privacy," the papers say. Attorneys for the plaintiffs counter that church officials have abandoned "pastoral compassion" and are playing hardball with the victims of child sex abuse. "The only logical conclusion drawn from defendants' demand that plaintiff use his real name is that the defendant wishes to intimidate, embarrass, or discourage plaintiff from continuing with this lawsuit, or to punish plaintiff by making this experience as painful for plaintiff as possible," court papers say. The bankruptcy settlement approved in April provided more than $50 million for about 175 people who claimed they were sexually abused by priests and other church officials in Western Oregon during the past half century. The settlement also set aside about $20 million for accusers who came forward later.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.