Calgary bishop supports priest’s defamation lawsuit

CANADA
CBC News

Bishop Fred Henry testified in a Calgary courtroom Tuesday in support of a priest who is suing an Indian man for defamation.

Father Antonio Rodrigues, a parish priest at St. Bernadette’s Church in southeast Calgary, has accused a man in India of spreading allegations that the priest molested a 13-year-old girl.

Ten years ago, the girl who made the accusation in India recanted her statement, telling local police she had lied. The case was dropped.

The priest now alleges a personal battle has led to a lawyer overseas, named Aires Rodrigues, continuing to spread the story in internet postings and emails to Calgary school and church officials.

Antonio Rodrigues is seeking $600,000 in damages. The two men share the same last name but are not related.

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