BishopAccountability.org
	Bishops across U.S. Named in Suit, Including Franklin Quad City Times [Iowa] September 23, 2006 http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/09/23/news/local/doc4514c0b63b969938430430.txt Catholic bishops across the country, including Diocese of Davenport Bishop William Franklin, have been named in a lawsuit filed in Wisconsin by the family of a man who was killed by a priest who later committed suicide. Franklin was served with the lawsuit this week, according to a release from the diocese. The suit does not seek monetary damages; instead, it demands the bishops turn over the names and locations of all Catholic clergy in the United States accused of sexual misconduct. In its release, the Diocese of Davenport said it has "turned over all information about reports of child abuse by living priests to the Scott County Attorney." In addition, the release states that information about credible allegations of child sexual abuse by priests have been given to victims' attorneys. The lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 8 in St. Croix County, Wis., names as defendants the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops and each bishop in the United States. The case stems from the February 2002 shooting deaths of Dan O'Connell and James Ellison in Hudson, Wis. According to the lawsuit, the Rev. Ryan Erickson killed both men at O'Connell's funeral home after O'Connell confronted Erickson about allegations that the priest had sexually abused children. The slayings were unsolved until late in 2004, when police began questioning Erickson about abuse allegations, and Erickson divulged details of the crime scene that hadn't been released to the public. In December 2004, police raided Erickson's church office and found child pornography on his computer. Three days later, Erickson hanged himself. Then in October 2005, a judge ruled that there was probable cause that Erickson killed O'Connell and Ellison. The suit was filed by O'Connell family members. Representatives of the conference of bishops have met twice with the O'Connell and Ellison families, according to the diocese's news release. O'Connell family members told the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press last month that it filed the lawsuit because they aren't satisfied with the bishops' response. Franklin was served with the lawsuit the same day Scott County District Court jury awarded $1.5 million to Michl Uhde, who claimed he was sexually abused by Monsignor Thomas J. Feeney more than 40 years ago. The diocese faces another trial next month in which 15 former Iowa City Regina High School students accuse former Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens of abuse beginning in 1959. The trials follow financial settlements totaling $10 million since 2004 that the diocese made with victims of other priests. To learn more A copy of the lawsuit can be found on the Web at O'Connell vs. United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.