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	Former Bishop's Taped Deposition Released By Kim Lucey CBS 3 July 19, 2010 http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/Former-Bishops-Taped-Deposition-Released-98784979.html A former bishop who left the church and the Pioneer Valley in disgrace is answering questions for the first time. Thomas Dupre's legal deposition from a clergy sex abuse lawsuit is now public. The deposition is more than 2 hours long, and the answers the former bishop gives are all the same. But the attorney asking those questions says it's the pictures that are worth a thousand words. Thomas Dupre, Former Bishop, says: "I assert my rights to refuse to answer." Though he said it nearly 250 times during the two hour tape, the attorney deposing Dupre says the way he reacts tells a whole lot more. John Stobierski, Attorney, says: "How he responds to them, how comfortable he is hearing the questions, whether he's thinking about the questions when he's giving his answer. Those things you can discern from body language. Stobierski represents Andrew Nicastro, a Williamstown man suing three former church leaders for allegedly covering up clergy sex abuse. It may take a lawyers eye, but he says you can see Dupre's discomfort when asked about a group made notorious during the scandal. Stobierski: Have you ever heard of a group of priests from the Diocese of Springfield called the Unholy 11 who were known to be part of a ring of pedophiles? Dupre: I assert my rights to refuse to answer. The line of questioning also addresses Dupre's own alleged sexual misconduct. In this lawsuit the former bishop is accused of covering up abuse, but has also faced allegations himself. Dupre was indicted on criminal charges, but never prosecuted because the statute of limitations ran out six years ago. That was the same time Dupre left the Pioneer Valley. This is the first we've heard from him since then, and though he doesn't say much, the tape could still hold weight in a civil trial. John Stobierski, Attorney, says: "It says to the court, that he doesn't want to answer because he fears there might be something to incriminate. And that could lead to a criminal prosecution." Stobierski expects this case to go to trial in 2012, and says he'll subpoena Dupre to appear in court. If not, the jury will likely see this taped testimony in his place. Dupre's attorney had tried to stop videotaped interview from coming public, saying its release was unnecessary and would cause embarrassment to the former bishop. The case is still in the discovery phase of the court process, meaning the other two church defendants still need to be deposed, including retired Bishop Joseph Maguire. Nicastro, the man suing them, needs to be officially interviewed as well.
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