BishopAccountability.org
	Church Abuse Victim Makes Offer to Give Money Back By Sam Hemingway Burlington Free Press December 18, 2008 http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20081218/MUSICBANDS/81218042/1009/NEWS01 David Navari, who won a $3.6 million damage award Wednesday in his case against the state’s Roman Catholic diocese, offered to give the money back if the diocese aggressively confronts priests in its ranks who molested children in the past. Navari made the surprise announcement moments after the conclusion of a nine-day trial on claims the Rev. Edward Paquette twice molested him in the 1970s and the diocese was at fault because it knew Paquette was a child molester when it hired him. Navari told reporters he was willing to put the proceeds of the jury award in a private trust for use by parents in the Burlington area needing financial help to defray the costs of an education in Catholic schools. “I am asking the diocese to help protect the children by putting the names, assignments and pictures of all credibly accused pedophiles on their Web site,” Navari said. “The parents deserve to know.” Navari said the diocese should begin proceedings to defrock Paquette and other priests who molested children in Vermont. “Criminal charges cannot be brought against Paquette,” Navari said. “If the diocese defrocks the priests where they were pedophiles and terminates all of their retirement money, I will take all of the reward money in this case and put it into a trust for needy parents to send their kids to Catholic schools.” Navari gave the diocese until the end of 2009 to do what he proposed in return for creation of the trust. Navari left the courthouse after announcing the proposal to fly home to Maryland. Bishop Salvatore Matano, contacted later Wednesday, said he was unaware of Navari’s plan but was willing to consider it. “I want the opportunity to review with the plaintiff himself and with counsel,” Matano said. “I need to get the details, all of the information, and give it the review it merits.” Contact Sam Hemingway at 660-1850 or e-mail at shemingway@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
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