Man Files Lawsuit against Archdiocese

WSVN
November 15, 2012

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21009071526959/man-files-lawsuit-against-archdiocese/

MIAMI (WSVN) - A South Florida priest who is awaiting trial on sexual abuse, is now facing new accusations.

Dennis Montero, who did not want to show his face on camera, is speaking out and claims Father Neil Doherty drugged and raped him when he was a child.

Montero explained why he stayed silent until now. "Being raped by a man is not something you tell your friends or your mom or anybody else. That's not something you do. At least, not where I came from," said Montero.

In a recently filed lawsuit, Montero and his attorney claimed Father Doherty used drugs, alcohol and money to take advantage of a young boy from a poor family.

They claim high-ranking members of the Archdiocese of Miami not only knew about the abuse but covered it up. "What we now know is that the Archdiocese of Miami failed to protect the children of South Florida from monsters like Doherty," said Attorney Jeffrey Herman.

The Archdiocese of Miami released a statement in response to the lawsuit: "As always, the Catholic Church's concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing. Over these past 10 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."

Montero's lawsuit comes one year after a Miami-Dade jury awarded $100 million in damages to a Michigan man who also claimed he was sexually abused by Father Doherty.

Montero says the lawsuit is not about money but about justice. "What he definitely doesn't need to do is step one foot out of that jail," said Montero. "He needs to stay right where he is at, so he doesn't hurt any more kids."