Supreme Court Ruling Goes against Catholic Church, WCSH, July 7, 2009

Supreme Court Ruling Goes against Catholic Church

WCSH
July 7, 2009

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=106792&catid=2

[read the court ruling]

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- A ruling from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court opens the door to lawsuits against the Catholic diocese in cases where victims claim the church knew that a priest had a history of molestation.

The ruling comes in the case of William Picher. Picher won a multi-million dollar judgment against Father Raymond Melville, stemming from allegations that the priest sexually abused him at St. Mary's School in Augusta in the 1980s. He says the priest's supervisors knew that he had molested a child before he was ordained, but did not inform police or the public.

In a 5-2 ruling, the justices said that the Bishop is not entitled to use the "charitable immunity defense" for deliberate actions.

The attorney for the diocese, Gerald Petrucelli, says he respects the court's decision, however he believes the arguments of the dissenting judges are sound.