By Beth Miller
News Journal
June 13, 2008
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS01/80613027
A third anonymous lawsuit charging sexual abuse by the Rev. Francis G. DeLuca was filed today against the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and St. John the Beloved Church.
In the suit, the 56-year-old plaintiff alleges more than 100 acts of sexual abuse by DeLuca, from 1962 10 1965, starting when the alleged victim was 10 years old.
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| The Rev. Francis G. DeLuca has been accused in several lawsuits of sexual abuse. Photo by News Journal |
The suit is the third anonymous DeLuca-related complaint filed this year and the fourth since Delaware's Child Victim's Act went into effect last July. The law eliminated the civil statute of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse and opened a two-year "window" during which previously time-barred complaints could be filed.
Robert Quill of Florida, the first to file suit under the new law, settled his case against DeLuca, the diocese and St. Elizabeth's Church earlier this year for an undisclosed sum.
The plaintiff has filed suit anonymously because revealing his identity would increase his medical and psychological injuries, according to attorney Thomas S. Neuberger, who represents him.
In the suit, the plaintiff alleges that church officials knew in 1962 that DeLuca was sexually abusing boys, but allowed him to continue serving at the St. John's parish.
"It would be inappropriate to comment," diocese spokesman Robert G. Krebs said.
DeLuca was allowed to retire to Syracuse when allegations of sexual abuse arose against him in 1993. He was arrested in 2006, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage relative and was sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Contact Beth Miller at 324-2784 or bmiller@delawareonline.com.
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