INDIANA
Perry County News
By KEVIN KOELLING
Managing Editor
PERRY COUNTY - The Roman Catholic archdiocese named in four sexual-abuse lawsuits filed as of last week is offering to provide help to any victims of a former priest named as co-defendant in the civil-court actions.
An officer in the Indianapolis Police Department would also like to hear from anyone who might have been abused by Harry Monroe, who served Perry County parishes in the early 1980s.
Civil complaints filed by attorney Patrick Noaker in Indianapolis allege Monroe was moved from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, then here, after child-molestation complaints were lodged against him. Noaker said last week he intended to file a fifth civil lawsuit last Tuesday on behalf of a Tell City man who also claimed Monroe sexually abused him, but said Friday that filing was delayed. He intends to file that complaint Wednesday, and said another Tell City victim contacted him last week.
The News attempted for its Oct. 31 story to contact Suzanne L. Yakimchick, identified as a victims' advocate with the Indianapolis Archdiocese, for comment Oct. 28, but offices there are closed Fridays. The organization is responsible for Catholic churches throughout central and southern Indiana.