By Chris Daniels
NWCN
May 19, 2009
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_051909WAB-church-abuse-case-SW.1b9cb3a4.html
SEATTLE – The last remaining plaintiff in the trial against the Seattle archdiocese has settled his case.
Brian Adam has accepted a $700,000 settlement.
Adam testified that he was molested by former pastor Patrick O'Donnell was he was in seventh grade. O'Donnell was a visiting priest at St. Paul's Parish in south Seattle.
Emotional day in court
It was an emotional morning in court on Tuesday as an abuse victim told his side of the story.
Brian Adam of Auburn detailed the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a Catholic priest several decades ago.
Adam sued the Seattle Archdiocese claiming it knew about a priest with a troubled history when it allowed him to live and work here several years ago.
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| Brian Adam of Auburn detailed the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of a Catholic priest several decades ago. |
That was the core issue in this trial, now in its second week.
Adam sat on the stand for an hour and described in detail four incidents when former pastor Patrick O'Donnell molested him.
Adam was a seventh grader at the time. O'Donnell was a visiting priest at St. Paul's parish in South Seattle.
Adam says he kept the incidents secret until just a few years ago.
"I think maybe because he was a priest and it was always taught to not question their authority and I didn't know if they'd believe me," a tearful Adam said.
O'Donnell was sent to Seattle by a Spokane bishop for sexual deviancy treatment.
On Monday, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen took the stand. He was in charge of the Seattle Archdiocese when O'Donnell came to Seattle from Spokane in the 70s.
At issue is whether Seattle church officials knew about O'Donnell's history when he transferred to Seattle from Spokane.
The 87-year-old Hunthausen said repeatedly that he did not recall any conversations about O'Donnell being a danger to children, but accepted responsibility for the priest's move to Seattle.
"I assumed this man was in good standing. He had been recommended by a by a bishop friend who I would never doubt. I find it hard to acknowledge that now. It hurts me," he said.
Three other men have settled with the Archdiocese out of court, including one man who settled MOnday for just over a half million dollars.
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