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  Sexual Abuse Suit against Worcester Diocese Caused Discrimination Towards Worcester City Hall Employee
Clergy Abuse Victim Receives $135,000 in Discrimination Suit Settlement

Worcester Voice
March 12, 2006

http://worcestervoice.com/Current%20news.htm

Worcester Magazine this week identified a recent 2003 civil suit filed against the City of Worcester by an employee in reference to discrimination.

Clergy abuse victim Edward Gagne of Spencer in 2003 filed suit against the City of Worcester and was awarded a $135,000 settlement after he says he faced discrimination in the work place due to his filing of a clergy sexual abuse civil suit naming Fr Brendan O'Donhue and Fr Peter Inzerillo. The clergy sexual abuse suit was settled in 1999 confidentially for $300,000 dollars.

Fr. Peter Inzerillo was reassigned to St. Leo Parish in Leominster in December 2000 in direct contradiction to the verbal agreement that Mr. Gagne had with then diocesan attorneys over the future of Fr Inzerillo. Mr. Gagne in March 2001 released his confidentially agreement which identified Fr. Inzerillo as a named party in a sexual abuse suit. The release of this confidentially agreement was responsible for increased media scrutiny against the Worcester Diocese and then Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.

Even in the face of numerous questionable actions being conducted by Fr. Inzerillo, Bishop Reilly stood firm and did not remove Fr. Inzerillo until some parents from St Leo's School hired Attorney Daniel Shea and a public discourse of the confidentially agreement and recent behaviors by Fr Inzerillo occurred.

The release of this settlement highlighted that priests from within the Worcester Diocese were still routinely being reassigned and that the matter of clergy sexual abuse was consciously being swept under the rug in Worcester diocese in the year 2000.

As we now know Mr. Gagne, then was forced to endure discrimination by his Catholic boss Stephen Willand, head of the city's Office of Employment and Training according to Mr. Gagne's civil suit which caused him years of loss wages and promotions.

The pains carried within by those who have dared to stand up to the Catholic church have been etched forever.

The pains endured from acts committed by those who believe they are protecting the "mother " church by hiding such abuse upon children and their families and punishing those who have stood so bravely, only amplifies the depth of this sickness and need for real reform we have yet to see from within the Worcester Diocese.

 
 

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