Two Former Springfield Diocese Bishops Named in Lawsuit, WGGB, September 17, 2009

Two Former Springfield Diocese Bishops Named in Lawsuit

WGGB
September 17, 2009

http://www.wggb.com/global/story.asp?s=11150258

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB) -- An alleged victim of clergy sexual abuse from Williamstown and his attorney announced Thursday they have filed a civil suit against two Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield bishops and another church official for negligence in the supervision of a priest accused of molestating him.

Andrew Nicastro, the alleged victim, has accused Alfred Graves, who was defrocked in 2006, of molesting him while he was a priest at St. Patrick's Church in Williamstown. Graves was previously named in other lawsuits for alleged sexual misconduct.

The suit lists the Most Rev. Joseph Maguire, the Most Rev. Thomas Dupre, and Monsignor Richard Sniezyk, who were officials in the diocese at the time of the alleged abuse in the early 1980s.

The diocese issued a statement Thursday, which reads "the Diocese of Springfield has not been named as a party to this suit, which is consistent with the fact that our diocesan records have been subjected to not one but two complete external examinations," and adds "the Diocese has only just learned of this civil complaint and it would be imprudent, therefore, to comment on the specifics of this matter prior to a thorough review of the claim and evidence to support it."

In addition to Williamstown, Graves, who was ordained in 1967, had served in numerous communities around Western Massachusetts, including Orange, Montague and Springfield.

Nicastro's attorney, John Stobierski, declined to name the amount they are seeking with the civil suit Thursday.