Priest Accused of Sexually Abusing 10-year-old 50-80 Times

KOAT
May 14, 2014

http://www.koat.com/news/priest-accused-of-sexually-abusing-10yearold-5080-times/25986228

[with video]

New lawsuits have been filed against a New Mexico priest.

Two former altar boys say they were sexually abused -- and the accused priests have been in trouble before.

"Like all of the cases to me are brave in handling this as best as they can, they are getting help for the first times in their lives," said attorney Brad Hall.

Hall represents more than 20 victims who have been abused by priests.

VIDEO: Priest accused of abusing boy at least 50 times

In these most recent cases hall explains the priests have faced allegations before.

Father Walter Cassidy is accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old altar boy 50-80 times, at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in northwest Albuquerque in the late 1960s.

Victims came out against Cassidy before, who has since died.

The second victim says the abuse happened in 1986 at Queen of Heaven parish in Northeast Albuquerque at the hands of Father Sabine Griego.

"He's been sued in the past as well and is still alive and not a priest," said Hall.

Hall believes allegations against the archdiocese and its priests will continue to surface for years because most victims don't come forward for decades.

That's because victims are able to suppress the abuse for some time, but usually not their whole life.

"Childhood survival strategies crumble at some point," said Hall.

The lawsuit said when these abuse cases allegedly occurred, New Mexico had one of the highest ratios of pedophile priests in the country.