Man Alleges He Was Abused by Priest While at Catholic High School

NBC
December 27, 2019

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/man-alleges-he-was-abused-by-priest-while-at-catholic-high-school/2281879/

During a news conference at the Hilton Checkers Los Angeles hotel downtown, lawyer Jeff Anderson said a new law, known as the Child Victims Act, gives new hope to alleged victims like the plaintiff in the current Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, who is identified only as John Doe LA 1002. He is suing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and St. Francis High School.

Saying it is time for every diocese and religious order in the state to come clean, attorneys Friday filed the first of six lawsuits by victims who allege they were sexually abused by a priest while attending St. Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge.

During a news conference at the Hilton Checkers Los Angeles hotel downtown, lawyer Jeff Anderson said a new law, known as the Child Victims Act, gives new hope to alleged victims like the plaintiff in the current Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, who is identified only as John Doe LA 1002.

He is suing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and St. Francis High School.

A representative for the archdiocese did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

AB 218 extends the statute of limitations and provides a three-year window for sexual abuse survivors to bring lawsuits in cases that were previously barred by the statute of limitations, no matter when the abuse occurred or how old the survivor is. Attorney Michael Finnegan, who also represents the plaintiff, said the law includes the assessment of triple damages against those found to have covered up the sexual assault of a minor.

Doe was 15 to 17 years old from 1984-86 when he maintains he was abused by the Rev. Christopher Kearney of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, the suit states. In addition to being a student, Doe was an altar server and parishioner, according to the suit.

"Seeing (Kearney) as a trustworthy mentor, plaintiff was conditioned to comply with (Kearney's) direction and to respect him as a person and authority in spiritual ethical and educational matters,'' the suit states.

Kearney was actually grooming Doe, and his actions culminated in his "repeated sexual abuse of plaintiff,'' the suit alleges.

Anderson said dioceses across the state need to come forward and reveal the current whereabouts of accused priests like Kearney.

"It's time for every diocese ... to come clean, to reveal like they never have before,'' Anderson said.

Kearney has been living in San Francisco and poses a serious risk to children, he said.

"It's time for this serial offender to be exposed in a way he never has been,'' he said.

Attorney Michael Reck, who also represents the plaintiff, said the church has been tight-lipped about Kearney.

"We have not been told whether he is still a priest or if he has access to children,'' Reck said.

Attorneys for the same law firm have filed a similar suit in Orange County Superior Court on behalf of two former Mater Dei students.