WAFB
June 10, 2011
http://www.wafb.com/story/14879149/judge-to-decide-in-priest-will-face-molestation-charges
[with video]
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BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
A panel of judges could soon decide if a former Baton Rouge priest accused of molesting boys, will have to stand trial.
The former priest who worked in several Louisiana cities including Baton Rouge is now 84 years old.
Thursday's testimony included several pages of church records and court records that had been kept secret for years. They include a four-page affidavit written in 2009 by former Catholic Priest Christopher Springer.
In the affidavit, Springer says he was molested as a young boy. He continues writing that then-bishop Stanley Joseph Ott, of the Baton Rouge Catholic Diocese, met with him and recommended a Florida treatment center for troubled priests.
He said "I assumed at the time that Bishop Ott knew that I was sexually abusing boys. Now retired, Springer said "I am telling the truth and I want my conscious to be clear."
Chuck Bishop says he is one of Springer's victims. The 43-year-old says his abuse at the hands of the priest started when he was just 9 years old and went on for three long years.
"I was really scared and I was crying in the back and he comforted me and said, he'd take me to dinner afterwards. We went to dinner that weekend. I was at his house in Clinton and he was all over me." Bishop said.
Bishop did not report the allegations until 5 years ago. A state court ruled that too much time had passed and the statute of limitations had run out. Bishop said he had suppressed those horrible memories and that's why he waited so long to come forward. His supporters hope the judges will make an exception in this case.
"Every time there's a criminal prosecution, it sends a message to any child that's being abused right now that the adults will help you." said Barbara Dorris, Director of S.N.A.P. - the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
The three-judge panel did not issue a ruling Thursday and they have not set a time frame for when that might happen.
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