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	Lavigne's Alleged Victim Speaks out By Jennifer Colby WWLP May 19, 2010 http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/lavignes-alleged-victim-speaks-out [with video] Peter Caffrey filed civil lawsuit on Wednesday GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Another man has come forward claiming he was abused by a priest in the Springfield Diocese. But he is not suing his alleged abuser, but instead the two former bishops that were supposed to be supervising him. Peter Caffrey, an alleged abuse victim, said, “He started touching me at confessional.” Peter Caffrey says he's coming forward because he hopes this process will make him whole again. The 47 year old who now lives in Michigan claims he fell apart last summer when horrible memories surfaced of former priest and Chicopee registered sex offender, Richard Lavigne. Peter Caffrey "I was raped. Let's just put it that way." When Caffrey realized how the distress was impacting him he turned to a psychiatrist. As the bills started to pile up, Caffrey claims he contacted the Springfield Diocese and after the church acknowledged his account was credible they only offered to pay his insurance co-pays, that's when he hired Greenfield attorney John Stobierski. The lawsuit isn't against his alleged abuser or the Springfield Diocese, but instead two former Bishops Miguire and Dupre. John Stobierski, a Greenfield attorney who’s representing Caffrey, said “The perpetrators are penny less and they can't provide justice." But Stobierski said the insurance they hold through the church can bring some monetary justice and that's what this lawsuit hopes to achieve. To read the complaint and jury trial demand, click here and here . Here’s what the Springfield Diocese had to say about this latest lawsuit. “Although not named in this action, the Diocese of Springfield has not yet been provided a copy of Mr. Caffrey’s lawsuit. We understand the allegations involve conduct of Richard Lavigne in the 1970s, but at this time we are unable to be any more precise. We can state that Mr. Caffrey first made these allegations against Richard Lavigne known to the diocese in 2009. He was, of course, offered at that time the full assistance of our Victim Counseling Office however he stopped communicating with that office some months ago. In fairness to the parties named in the lawsuit it is important to remember all diocesan records, including those covering that same time period have been extensively scrutinized and reviewed by both local law enforcement officials and attorneys representing insurance carriers. Further Bishop Maguire gave sworn testimony to both. As a result of those reviews, Bishop Maguire’s conduct in supervising and assigning personnel has never been criticized. These allegations of inadequate supervision will be defended vigorously. This terrible misconduct was clandestine. All allegations of misconduct made to the diocese, no matter when they took place, are immediately referred to law enforcement as was this when it was received.”
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