New Haven Register
December 14, 2010
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/12/14/blotter/doc4d076d487c484353846101.txt
[Click here to read copies of the lawsuits]
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Two men who say they were sexually abused by a youth leader for the Knights of Columbus in Brownsville, Texas, have sued the Roman Catholic men’s fraternity.
The suits, filed in U.S. District Court, were announced by attorney Jeffrey Herman at a press conference this morning outside the K of C’s international headquarters off Church Street.
Patrick S. Korten, vice president for communications for the Knights, said it was the first time a complaint of sexual abuse had been made against the organization.
The lawsuits allege that two boys, Jim Denanny and “John Doe No. 1,” were sexually abused by Juan Rivera, leader of their Columbian Squires group, during the 1970s and 1980s. Each man is seeking $5 million in damages.
The Columbian Squires are the official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus, open to boys between the ages of 10 and 18.
According to the lawsuits, Rivera’s alleged abuse was reported to the Knights in 1986 but the organization “concealed this report of abuse and intimidated the victim into not making the abuse by Rivera public,” according to Dennany’s complaint.
John Doe alleges he was abused by Rivera while he was involved with the Columbian Squires between 1978 and 1986; Dennany alleges he was abused by Rivera between 1973 and 1977.
Korten, at a press conference in the K of C’s landmark headquarters building, said the Knights had no knowledge of abuse until 2009, and that Rivera was immediately removed from the Squires and that the K of C is cooperating with Brownsville police.
He denied that the Knights were notified in 1986 that Rivera was allegedly abusing Squires members. “There is no indication of any kind in any of the records of which we’re aware that would indicate such a complaint was made,” he said.
Korten said a written Youth Protection Program was published in 2003 to assure the safety of the Columbian Squires members, but that the fraternity has always been concerned about the safety of children in its charge. (See the program brochure below.)
He said background checks are conducted on all applicants who wish to serve as youth leaders. “The screening process is a good one. The screening process was very carefully prepared,” Korten said.
Concerning Rivera, “There was no record in the public domain” that raised any concerns, he said. “He had basically a clean record.”
Korten said Knights are strongly encouraged to read and follow the youth protection guidelines, but he was not certain whether formal training sessions took place.
Call Ed Stannard at 203-789-5743.
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