Parents Settle Wrongful Death Suit with Archdiocese

WGEM
November 10, 2016

http://www.wgem.com/story/33680526/parents-settle-wrongful-death-suit-with-archdiocese


ST. LOUIS (AP) - The parents of a young man who killed himself years after alleged sexual abuse by a priest are hopeful that settlement of a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of St. Louis will prompt other victims to come forward.

The suit filed by Dan and Pat Harkins of Florissant, Missouri, was settled in September, but it wasn't announced until Thursday. Officials with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests say it's at least the third wrongful death suit settled by the archdiocese.

The archdiocese says in a statement that it agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainties of trial and put the issue to rest. The archdiocese says it hopes the settlement gives the family peace.

Alex Harkins committed suicide at age 21 in 2009. His parents say Alex had struggled emotionally since abuse by the Rev. Bryan Kuchar about eight years earlier.

Kuchar was convicted in 2003 of abusing another child, and later removed from the priesthood.