WCNC
October 15, 2008
http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-101508-mw-diocese_lawsuit.116dfe09c.html
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A civil lawsuit has been filed against the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and a priest accused of child molestation.
Father Robert Yurgel was arrested in April in New Jersey and accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in 1999 in Charlotte.
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| Robert Yurgel |
Now, the Charlotte diocese is accused of aiding in a cover-up. A support group for sexual abuse victims called SNAP held a press conference on Wednesday to explain.
"The first person in the diocese who became aware or had suspicion went to the diocese's officials, went to church officials instead of to the police. And that's why we're here. That's the part that needs to change in an institution," said David Fortwengler, director of SNAP.
Yurgel's religious order based out of New Jersey is also named in the lawsuit. Yurgel is out of jail on bond.
The victim in the case is suing for $10,000 in damages.
The Charlotte diocese did not returned a call for comment.
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