By Iris St. Meran
News 10 Now
September 23, 2008
http://news10now.com/content/top_stories/124667/syracuse-diocese-served-civil-lawsuit/Default.aspx
[with video]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Attorney John Aretakis isn't suing the Syracuse Diocese for money, He wants information about one of its priests, Father John Broderick.
"From the Syracuse Diocese I'm asking for his personnel records. However, from St. Gregory's where he's worked on two occasions they may not have a personnel file, so to them it might be his employment file," said Aretakis.
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Aretakis will be serving lawsuits to churches in New York and Pennsylvania, places Broderick worked as a priest. He believes what's in these files is important to his criminal case against the priest. Back in February, Broderick was arrested on child sexual abuse charges. He's accused of inappropriate contact with children of a Montgomery County family and is awaiting a trial in November.
"I represent a 5 year old little boy, a seven-year-old little boy, a nine-year-old boy and an 11-year-old little boy. I mean why wouldn't the priorities of these children take precedence of the church trying to hold back his personnel file," said Aretakis.
The Syracuse Diocese was served the civil lawsuit Tuesday. The communications director says they take all allegations seriously.
"Certainly, we're concerned whenever we receive any allegation. But this is our first allegation of sexual abuse in which it is a current case. We will do anything to cooperate with the District Attorney's office to assist them with their investigation," said Syracuse Diocese Communications Director Danielle Cummings.
Cummings could not say if or when the Diocese would turnover the documents. Broderick was officially suspended earlier this year for an unrelated matter. Father Broderick's Criminal Trial is scheduled for November 10th.
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