New Ulm Catholic Diocese Sued

By Brittany Larson
The Keyc
June 19, 2013

http://www.keyc.tv/story/22626372/new-ulm-cath

[with video]

A man who says he was sexually abused by an Irish priest inMinnesota decades ago is suing the New Ulm Diocese.

This morning Attorney Pat Noaker filed a lawsuit inBrown County on behalf of John Doe 103.

His client says in the lawsuit he was about 15 years old WhenFather Francis Markey abused him in 1982 while he served at a perish in Henderson.

Pat Noaker says, "This man came forward a few years agobut at that time Minnesota didn't allow him to file a case because too muchtime has passed. It was a bad law."

That law changed this year when Minnesota lawmakers passedthe Child Victims act allowing John Doe to file his case after 31 years.

His lawyer says his client deserves financial compensation tohelp him pay for therapy and medical bills but also wants to get the wordout so this doesn't happen again.

Noaker says, "He wants someone to take accountability.John Doe feels the kids especially in the country were ignored."

Brittany Larson says, "In 1952 Father Markey wasordained as a Roman Catholic Priest and was assigned to a parish in Ireland andlater in 1964 it was discovered that he had sexually abused a child and wassuspended from ministry."

Bishop Delegate, Douglas Gram says, "We did not knowanything of his past outside of that he was a recovering alcoholic."

In January of 2011, the Diocese of New Ulm was named in alawsuit alleging sexual abuse of a minor by Fr. Markey.

A statement released yesterday says, "The Diocese of NewUlm deeply regrets the long–lasting and devastating effects of sexualmisconduct on the part of clergy.

Such misconduct requires positive action on our part and wehave been strengthening our systems and procedures in order to address thisgrave issue by following the U.S. bishops' "Charter for the Protection ofChildren and Young People," established in June 2002.

Gram says, "We want to create an ongoing safeenvironment so all parish worker that work with the youth will help identifysexual misconduct and report that immediately."

At this point the court will be collecting documents anddepositions.

Noaker anticipates it will be at least 18 months before thiscase will be set for trial.