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	Two New Sexual Abuse Lawsuits against Miami Archdiocese Latin American Herald Tribune November 5, 2011 http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=439509&CategoryId=12395 Two new lawsuits for sexual abuse have been filed against the Archdiocese of Miami, this time by two men who say they were violated by a priest when they were youngsters and that the ecclesiastical district was aware of the situation but did nothing to stop it. The lawsuits, which were made public Thursday, accuse the archdiocese of negligence for the purpose of shielding Fr. Neil Doherty, who, they say, drugged and sexually abused the plaintiffs that are now suing the church district for $5 million. “The Archdiocese of Miami’s policy on sexual abuse allegations is very clear: a report is made to the State Attorney’s office; our internal Archdiocesan Review Board reviews the allegation; and pastoral care and counseling are offered to any alleged victim. Our policy is available for review on the archdiocesan website www.miamiarch.org,” the institution said Friday in a communique. Doherty, who has had dozens of similar suits filed against him, is in prison awaiting trial for a similar case. At a press conference, one of the plaintiffs, Benjamin Fisher, 50, said that the sexual harassment began when he was 16 years old and continued for five years, while the other victim was 9 years old. “As always, the Catholic Church’s concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing. Over these past ten years, the archdiocese has been forthcoming and taken steps to keep children safe through training and background screenings of all its employees, volunteers, clergy and teachers,” the church district said. It also said that “if anyone has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy or church personnel, they should contact the local law enforcement department and/or the Archdiocese of Miami’s Victims Assistance Hotline, 1-866-802-2873.” EFE
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