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	Judge Frees Catholic School from Liability in Priest Abuse Case Associated Press, carried in Quad-City Times [Iowa City IA] October 10, 2006 http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/10/10/news/local/doc452bee4592af0419412975.txt A Roman Catholic school has been dismissed from a civil trial involving a former principal accused of sexually molesting a student more than 40 years ago, according to a judge's ruling filed Tuesday. Scott County District Judge C.H. Pelton's ruling comes less than two weeks before Regina Catholic Education Center was scheduled to defend itself in the latest priest abuse scandal that also involves the Diocese of Davenport. The decision also comes a day after Regina school board officials said they were preparing to file for federal bankruptcy protection if the jury found it financially liable in the case. The school and the diocese are accused of failing to supervise or discipline former Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens, who served as Regina's principal in the 1960s, for allegedly molesting students during private meetings in his office. Regina's attorneys argued the statue of limitations applied to the school and that it should not be held legally responsible, and the judge agreed. Pelton concluded that Iowa law frees schools from liability five years after an any alleged misconduct occurred. The ruling does not apply to the diocese or Soens, and the trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 23 in Davenport.
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