BishopAccountability.org
	10th Lawsuit against Priest Alleges Crime Was Committed in Terre Haute WTWO [Terre Haute IN] June 13, 2006 http://www.wtwo.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=6574 One priest assigned by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will face a 10th lawsuit of sexual misconduct, and this one claims the alleged crime was committed in Vigo County. After months of work and five minutes inside the Vigo County Courthouse, John Doe W.C.'s attorney Patrick Noaker filed a civil lawsuit saying Harry Monroe sexually abused his client. Monroe was a priest who served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in three Indianapolis parishes, and one in Terre Haute, St. Patrick's. "John Doe W.C. was abused on a number of occasions including times in the Saint Patrick`s rectory in Father Monroe`s bedroom," says Noaker. Additionally, Noaker says five boys besides his client were abused at Saint Patricks between 1979 and 1982. Melissa Limcaco's son was one of them, and that's why she chose to be present while John Doe W.C. filed his lawsuit, to show support. She describes her discussion with a church official after she decided to let the archdiocese handle her son's case instead of police: "Then I asked him what it is that they were specifically doing to keep this from happening to other children and the monsignor turned on a dime and said it was not my place to question the authority of the archbishop." That`s why the archdiocese of Indianapolis is included in the lawsuit, which claims the church`s administrative body knew about Father Monroe`s conduct and did nothing. But Archdiocese communications officer Greg Otolski says, "We`ve had policies in place for a long time in the archdiocese of Indianapolis to always encourage people to come forward." In fact, in its newspaper, the diocese runs an add reaching out to Catholics who may have been sexually abused. "And," says Otolski, "if it`s ever anything that would involve a minor that's immediately reported to a prosecutor as a crime." That`s also the policy stated in a letter to parishioners at another church where Monroe served, and on the website for the archdiocese, ARCHINDY.ORG. But Noaker says that policy is a trap--one which Melissa Limcaco and her son fell victim to: "Someone was able to keep her from telling what happened just long enough for what many believe is the statute of limitations on criminal charges. That was no accident, that was no accident. That was planned. They were protecting one of their own" Despite having 10 civil lawsuits filed against him, Harry Monroe has no criminal record. He currently lives near Nashville, Tennesee.
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