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	Both Sides Agree Defrocked Priest Was "Evil" By Sean O'Sullivan News Journal October 27, 2010 http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20101027/NEWS01/10270333&theme=PRIESTABUSE Attorneys for John M. Vai, who claims to have been sexually abused by a priest some 40 years ago, and those representing St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Parish, where the abuser worked, agreed on one thing in opening statements Tuesday -- defrocked priest Francis DeLuca was and is "evil." "DeLuca was the embodiment of evil," said parish attorney Colleen D. Shields, adding his sins against young members of the St. Elizabeth family continue to shock and cause pain. But Vai attorney Thomas C. Crumplar went further, claiming that by inaction and looking the other way, parish officials aided DeLuca's evil and but for that inattention and neglect, Vai and a number of other young victims would have been spared from the abuse. Crumplar noted that Vai was one of at least five young boys victimized by a priest at St. Elizabeth's in those years. Shields claimed that Vai's story of abuse has changed to make it appear that St. Elizabeth's was more negligent and that his life has been more negatively affected. Vai is suing St. Elizabeth's and DeLuca seeking damages under the Delaware Child Victims Act of 2007. DeLuca is no longer represented by an attorney, has little money, and did not appear in court Tuesday. Vai's lawsuit is one of a handful that a U.S. bankruptcy judge allowed to go forward while the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington seeks bankruptcy protection. Attorneys expect the result of Vai's lawsuit -- where the jury is being asked to determine how much the parish is responsible for the acts committed by DeLuca -- may have a significant effect on the resolution of 150 similar lawsuits. Crumplar told the jury Tuesday that priests at St. Elizabeth's looked the other way when DeLuca "paraded" a string of young boys up to his bedroom at the house adjacent to the Wilmington church. He said parish and St. Elizabeth's High School officials also allowed DeLuca to take young boys on trips without a chaperone, in violation of a rule designed to protect children. Shields responded that DeLuca was a master of deception who was able to use charm to mask the "sick" monster that he was. She said DeLuca was so good that he was able to even convince some parents of his victims to allow him to sleep over at their homes in the bedrooms of the young boys he was abusing. Shields conceded that "the priesthood is not free of evil," but said in the 1960s it was a different time and most could not conceive that a priest could commit "such unspeakable acts." Testimony in the case is expected to begin at 10 a.m. today and last several weeks at the Kent County Courthouse before Superior Court President Judge James T. Vaughn Jr. Contact Sean O'Sullivan at 324-2777 or sosullivan@delawareonline.com
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