Venice Diocese settles child sex abuse claim

News-Press
August 19, 2014

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2014/08/19/venice-diocese-settles-child-sex-abuse-claim/14277993/

Church Pews with Stained Glass Beyond Pulpit

At a news conference this afternoon, Adam Horowitz, an attorney for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, will announce a pre-litigation settlement of a child sexual abuse and cover-up claim against the Diocese of Venice involving the Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph.

The allegations relate to Joseph's abuse of a teenage boy while assigned to St. Francis Xavier parish in Fort Myers, according to a news release from Horowitz.

In 2009, allegations against Joseph by a 31-year-old man were made public by the Diocese of Venice. Joseph denied the abuse, which was alleged to have happened at St. Francis Xavier about 15 years ago.

Horowitz said he will release the new church document, which outlines the internal church investigation and judicial proceedings against Joseph that led to his removal as a priest last year.