Suit against USCCB harms sex abuse prevention, says bishop

Published: 2006-08-15

SUPERIOR, Wis. (CNS) -- A lawsuit brought against the U.S. Catholic bishops by relatives of a man believed to have been killed by a priest "will only hurt the positive progress we have made" to end clergy sex abuse of minors, said Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior. The suit was filed in a Wisconsin court Aug. 8 against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and against its member bishops as individuals. It does not ask for monetary damages. It asks for a court injunction to have the bishops release the names and addresses of priests and church personnel who at the least have had accusations of child sex abuse against them deemed credible. It also asks the bishops to release documents that it says could be evidence of a failure by the bishops to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement authorities and documents that could be evidence that child sex abuse took place. "While I am certain their motives are sincere, I believe these actions will only prolong their pain and anger and will hinder our efforts to move forward in providing safe environments for our children and youth," said Bishop Fliss in an Aug. 14 statement.

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