CALIFORNIA
Contra Costa Times
Stephanie K. Baer
POSTED: 05/08/2015
A former Covina priest who was removed from the church by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2004 because of his “emotional instability” allegedly sexually abused at least two children in the parish prior to his removal, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The complaint alleges that the Rev. Chris Cunningham sexually molested a 12-year-old boy at St. Louise de Marillac Catholic Church from 2001 to 2002 and states that the Archdiocese failed to inform parishioners about the allegations.
Cunningham, the church and the Archdiocese are named defendants in the case. The plaintiff, who is now 25 years old, is not identified and was one of at least two victims of the priest’s sexual abuse, said Anthony DeMarco, an attorney for the plaintiff.
“The Archdiocese was especially sneaky in the way that they handled this case,” DeMarco said in a statement. “Despite all of their promises of transparency, Cardinal (Roger) Mahony refused to tell parishioners about the allegations in 2004.”
Then, in 2013, Archbishop Jose Gomez “quietly released” Cunningham’s name on a list of accused priests but neglected to notify the parishes where Cunningham had worked, DeMarco said.
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