Local Bishop Named in Suit to Reveal Priest Names, CBS 2, October 7, 2006

Local Bishop Named in Suit to Reveal Priest Names

CBS 2
October 7, 2006

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_280151011.html

Photo by The AP

(CBS) Riverside, Calif. Bishop Gerald Barnes is one of dozens named by the family of a slain Wisconsin man in a lawsuit intended to force church leaders to identify sexually abusive priests.

The lawsuit, described as the first of its kind in scope, was filed in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, and targets all bishops and archbishops who run dioceses in the United States, as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It seeks to compel church leaders to reveal the names and addresses of an estimated 5,000 sexually abusive priest.

Barnes, who leads Riverside and San Bernardino county Catholic churches as head of the San Bernardino diocese, is one of nearly 200 bishops named in the suit.

The suit was filed by relatives of Dan O'Connell, a funeral home owner shot to death in 2002 along with his employee, James Ellison, 22. A judge determined in 2005 that O'Connell's pastor, Rick Erickson, killed the two men after being confronted over suspicion that the cleric was molesting children.

Erickson, 31, committed suicide in 2004 by hanging himself at his church following questioning by police.

Tom O'Connell, the brother of the victim, alleged church leaders knew of Erickson's history of suspected abuse. He said the suit does not seek monetary damages but will protect children by forcing bishops to reveal the names and locations of an estimated 5,000 abusive priests, a figure from a 2002 study commissioned by the Bishop's conference.

The Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesperson for the San Bernardino diocese, said the paper the San Bernardino diocese had been very public in its outreach to potential victims of sexual abuse, both within and outside the church.