WJBD
August 1, 2011
http://www.wjbdradio.com/?f=news_single&id=28254
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The Illinois Supreme Court has once again rejected a request by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville to hear an appeal of a St. Clair County Jury award of five-million dollars to a former Alter Boy at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Salem.
James Wisniewski, who now lives in Champaign, received the award in a 2008 civil jury trial based on claims he was sexually abused by former Parish Priest Reverend Raymond Kownacki. The Belleville News Democrat reports the only option now open to the Belleville Diocese is an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, to proceed a constitutional question has to be raised.
During the trial, Wisniewski's attorneys produced documents that showed diocesan officials knew that Kownacki was accused of sexually assaulting boys and girls, but continued to reassign him to parishes without warning parishioners.
The paper says Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton approved both appeals to the State Supreme Court. Braxton reportedly sent a letter to priests to read to the public after the latest appeal was filed in May. Braxton maintained in the letter the statue of limitations had been extended in the Wisniewski case in such a way that it violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
The 5th District Appellate earlier ruled there were no issue of religious freedom and extended the allowable time to file the case because the diocese 'fradulently concealed' Kownacki's danger to children.
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