New Suit against Diocese
By Jennie Rodriguez-Moore
A new child sex-abuse lawsuit has been filed against the Catholic Diocese of Stockton and its highest-ranking official, Bishop Stephen Blaire, alleging abuse in 1992 by defrocked priest Oliver O'Grady. Blaire became Stockton bishop in 1999. An unidentified 25-year-old plaintiff was molested by the notorious O'Grady when he was 5 years old, according to the complaint. In 1992, O'Grady was assigned to St. Andrew's Parish in San Andreas. Blaire said he shared the complaint with Calaveras County law enforcement after obtaining a copy of court documents Wednesday. Consultant Patrick Wall, a member of the Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, announced the civil action in front of the diocese's pastoral center at San Joaquin and Channel streets. "I fault these guys because they knew," said Wall, who is consulting with the plaintiff's attorney, Sacramento-based Joseph C. George. "They knew as early as 1973 that he had abused a child." Wall added that other critics say diocese officials concealed allegations against O'Grady and transferred him from parish to parish after they learned of his sexual misconduct decades ago. The plaintiff alleges O'Grady was supposed to provide counseling and advice to him as a child. In his complaint, he said O'Grady molested him while baby sitting him in the priest's rectory bedroom. The plaintiff's name has not been released because of the nature of the allegations. He is identified in court papers only as John Be Doe. Blaire issued a statement Wednesday addressing the complaint: "The Diocese of Stockton takes all accusations of sexual abuse very seriously," he said. "We follow clear guidelines to ensure that accusations are handled appropriately and that we offer whatever help and healing we can to victims of sexual abuse." O'Grady has admitted to molesting dozens of children when he was a pastor. He is the subject of the 2006 documentary film, "Deliver Us From Evil." O'Grady was deported to his native Ireland in 2000. He is now serving a three-year jail sentence in Ireland for possession of child pornography. Wall said that attorneys in John Be Doe's case plan to travel to Ireland to interview O'Grady. Joelle Casteix, director of the western region of SNAP, said the group believes there are many more victims of O'Grady who are still keeping their abuse secret. The organization is encouraging victims to come forward. Casteix said most victims come forward as adults because they are often ashamed and afraid of stigmas associated with making such claims. "They're scared they're going to be railroaded," she said. "The pain never goes away." When criminal charges aren't an option, Casteix said, civil lawsuits often provide justice. The Diocese has spent millions of dollars settling such lawsuits, including the case filed by Glenn Jose of Stockton. Jose, who attended the news conference, said he was molested as a teenager by O'Grady while the priest served at Church of the Presentation. "The Catholic Church has to be responsible for their actions," said Jose, 47. "They can't just sweep it under the rug." John Be Doe's lawsuit is seeking damages stemming from allegations of sexual battery, liability, negligence, fraud and other causes. The Diocese recently settled a child sex-abuse suit involving Michael Kelly, the former pastor of St. Joachim Parish in Lockeford. Blaire said the safety of children is a major priority and in-place policies will be reviewed. Kelly, who had served the diocese since the 1970s, was found liable by a civil jury of assaulting former altar boy Travis Trotter, 37. Two days before he was scheduled to testify in the liability phase of his trial, Kelly suddenly departed to his native Ireland and has not returned. Although there is still an ongoing investigation into other child sex-abuse claims, the former cleric insists he is innocent and only left the United States because the accusations took a toll on his health. Kelly has refused Record requests for an interview. Potential future litigation involving Kelly looms over the diocese amidst an ongoing investigation in Calaveras County. Last week, the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office announced that investigators plan to file a report with prosecutors within 30 days. Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or jrodriguez@recordnet.com Visit her blog at recordnet.com/courtsblog.
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