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"I Can No Longer Stay Quiet" By Jackie Bruno and Matt Caron WWLP September 17, 2009 http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/wwlp_local_i_can_no_longer_stay_quiet_20090917 Did church officials know about molestation? WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) - A new lawsuit has been filed in the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. Andrew Nicastro, a Williamstown man is saying that his molestation could have been prevented. Nicastro is suing three top church officials claiming they knew that Alfred Graves had a history of indecent conduct with a minor. "It’s angering. It could have all been avoided had somebody simply did anything, anything at all," Nicastro explained. Now 38 years-old, Nicastro claims he was molested by Father Alfred Graves during the age of 11-13. Augusta Nicastro, Andrew's mother told 22News she feels betrayed by her faith. "I can never believe we had so much trust in the church and the priest. All my life I thought they were the closest thing to God." Supported by his family, Nicastro and his attorney, John Stobierski, are filing a civil lawsuit against Monsignor Richard Sniezyk, Bishop Joseph Maguire, and Bishop Thomas Dupre. They claim that the three church officials knew about Graves's history of child molestation. "Father Graves admitted that yes, I did have inappropriate interactions with a minor and according to our writings, Bishop Maguire did nothing more than to say don’t do it again," explained Nicastro's attorney, John Stobierski. Nicastro also told 22News he's received many apologies from the Catholic Church, but that when it came to therapy, they told him to use his own insurance to pay for it. The Catholic diocese disputes that claim, telling 22News that they do pay for some of Nicastro’s services. The diocese says there have been disagreements about some of Nicastro's treatments, but that they have provided him with the same assistance that they provide to other victims. "If this stops it from happening to one more child, it will have all been worth it. But I can no longer stay quiet," said Nicastro. |
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