Groups Plan Protest outside Saginaw Diocese after Bishop Linked to Philly Clergy Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit

By Justin Engel
MLive
August 29, 2012

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/08/groups_plan_protest_outside_sa.html

The Most Rev. Joseph R. Cistone, bishop of Saginaw, has been linked to a civil lawsuit in Philadelphiabr>

Two children’s rights groups today plan to protest outside the Diocese of Saginaw headquarters here after the Catholic organization’s leader’s name was attached to a planned clergy sexual abuse-based lawsuit, officials say.

The Most Bishop Joseph Cistone earlier this year was not named in any criminal indictments, but lawyers say Cistone and others will be named in a civil case brought on by a former altar boy who claimed sexual abuse in 1992, media reports indicate.

Lawyers claim Cistone helped oversee the shredding of documents relating to the alleged abuse.

Now members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and Protecting Michigan’s Children, a group that has worked with Michigan legislators to introduce laws aimed at better protecting children, plan to show up at 1 p.m. today at the diocese offices, 5800 Weiss in Saginaw Township.

“SNAP and Protecting Michigan’s Children are writing a letter to Bishop Cistone urging him to ‘come clean’ about his role in the Philadelphia scandal, and to pledge that no money from donations in Saginaw will be used to pay his legal fees,” reads an email statement from both groups. “(SNAP) wants to be sure that Bishop Cistone is held accountable for his role in the Philadelphia cover-ups.”

The press release indicates people at the protest will hold signs and childhood photos while sex abuse victims will deliver the letter to Cistone.

Attorneys during a criminal trial this year claimed Archdiocese of Philadelphia administrators shredded documents naming priests accused of sexual abuse while allowing one priest to remain in active ministry with the Northeast Philadelphia parish, where the 10-year-old altar boy was abused, media reports indicate.

Msgr. William J. Lynn is serving three to six years in state prison after a Common Pleas Court jury in June found him guilty of endangering children when he was secretary for clergy under Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua.

Lawyers claim Bevilacqua in 1994 ordered the destruction of documents naming 35 priests suspected of child molestation. Cistone witnessed the shredding while serving as a church official in the Philadelphia area, attorneys claim.

Cistone, installed as the Diocese of Saginaw’s leader in July 2009, did not want to comment on pending litigation, a diocese spokesperson said.

The diocese covers churches in 11 counties including Saginaw, Midland and Bay counties.

Contact: jengel1@mlive.com