PA--Predator priest lawsuit settles

By Karen Polesir
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
August 20, 2015

http://www.snapnetwork.org/_pa_predator_priest_lawsuit_settles

We are both sad and glad that a civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit against Philly Catholic officials has settled.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150820_Phila__Archdiocese_settles_sexual-abuse_civil_suit.html

We’re glad because this brave victim deserves healing, justice and closure. But we’re sad because when cases like this go to trial, more complicit Catholic officials are exposed.

We hope this resolution will prod others who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups in Philadelphia to come forward, expose predators, protect kids and start healing. We also hope it brings some measure of comfort to anyone who may have been hurt by Fr. Edward Avery, Fr. Charles Engelhardt, Catholic teacher Bernard Shero or other predators, be they priests, nuns, seminarians, brothers, bishops or other church staff.

Finally, we hope it will also help remind everyone that clergy sex crimes and cover ups are best dealt with in the open, impartial and time-tested secular justice system, not behind closed doors in chancery offices with secretive and self-serving Catholic bureaucrats.