Diocese lawsuits

Open courthouse doors to abuse victims

Alleged victims of child sexual abuse should have access to the court system for compensation, even if their allegations cover abuse from decades ago.

It’s the right thing to do. Many victims don’t come forward out of fear, embarrassment and threats by abusers. Others suppress the memories of abuse, which eventually make their way back to the surface.

Those suits would typically be barred because of the statute of limitations.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has decided to review a ruling by the state Superior Court that allowed a lawsuit by Renee Rice, who claims she was abused by a priest in the 1970s and 1980s. The Superior Court decision allowed filing of similar suits, including against the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Supreme Court should uphold the unanimous decision by the Superior Court and allow Ms. Rice to take her case to trial. She would still be required to prove her case but would have that opportunity.

A Blair County court threw out the lawsuit on the grounds of the statute of limitations.

Ms. Rice claims that the Rev. Charles Bodziak abused her when he served as a priest in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The Rev. Bodziak was named in the 2016 grand jury report as a priest who committed sexual abuse in that diocese. He denies the allegations, but was placed on leave from public ministry by the diocese.

Her attorneys are relying on suing the diocese for fraud and conspiracy. They allege the fraud and cover-up continued until the 2016 grand jury report, which detailed a cover-up by church officials and listed a large number of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse.

Catholic dioceses hope the state Supreme Court overturns the Superior Court ruling. The church hopes to limit additional suits that are driving some dioceses into bankruptcy. If the court allows Ms. Rice’s case to proceed, and the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown files for bankruptcy, the bankruptcy judge would decide the allocation of church funds to victims.

If her case went to trial, Ms. Rice would be required to prove that the abuse occurred and that the church engaged in fraud and conspiracy.

Many accused priests can never face criminal prosecution because of criminal statutes of limitations at the time of the alleged crimes. Allowing civil lawsuits to proceed via fraud and conspiracy allegations would bring some measure of justice long denied.