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	A Local Couple Is Suing the Archdiocese of Louisville WHAS11 January 28, 2011 http://www.whas11.com/home/Louisville-couple-sue-archdiocese-114751909.html [with video] Mikell Grafton, the attorney for Gary and Margie Weiter says the couple is suing because Margie was wrongfully fired as a bookkeeper at St. Therese church. Gary is also suing, saying how the church dealt with a priest accused of sexual abuse forced him to remember traumas he suffered as a child at the hands of an allegedly abusive priest. On the surfaces the two issues may not seem to be connected, but according to the couple, they are. According to the lawsuit, Pastor James Schook was being unofficially housed at St. Therese Church after being suspended in July of 2009. He was accused of sexual abuse. The Weiters say he was allowed to move freely throughout the parish and rectory without supervision. Margie Weiter says she went to the pastor of St. Therese, Rev. Anthony Olges, and told him that she, among others, didn’t believe it was appropriate for Schook to be housed there. According to the lawsuit, Margie says her complaints were ignored, and that she was instructed not to reveal to any person that Schook was being housed at St. Therese. The lawsuit goes on to say that the presence of Schook brought back memories of the incidents of abuse that Gary Weiter endured as a teenager at St. Therese. He says it caused him to be unable to come to St. Therese Rectory to worship. He was also unable to continue running the church’s bingo. Margie Weiter says she was concerned for her husband’s welfare and even approached Schook to suggest it was inappropriate and wrong for him to be living there. In May of 2010, Margie’s position with the church was terminated. She says she believes it was a direct result of her complaints about Schook. The Archdiocese did issue a statement saying the lawsuit came as a surprise. The statement says, “Margie Weiter’s position ended as part of a staff reduction process with the parish offices of St. Therese, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Family merged.” The Archdiocese also says they regret to hear of Mr. Weiter’s complaint, and are prepared to reach out to him and offer pastoral assistance and counseling. The Archdiocese suspended Schook in July of 2009 after receiving a sexual abuse complaint. In March of 2010, the Archdiocese said the accusations against him were credible. They said Schook may never publicly present himself as a priest again, and cannot have unsupervised contact with minors.
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