Friday, February 20, 2009

Because Of Twelve

The victims and their attorneys have alleged that the Jesuits used Alaska as dumping ground for pedophile priests. At least one of those priests, James Poole, is housed by the Jesuits in Spokane.

Spokane Catholic Bishop William Skylstad has identified 12 Jesuit priests that have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in his diocese. Most are deceased, but several are still alive and maintain residence in the city.

John Allison, a Spokane attorney who represented 16 former St. Mary’s Mission students who were sexually abused by Jesuits and reached settlements, said there will be many more people who come forward.

He represents about 15 former students from the missionary school in Omak and called their recollections of sexual abuse and damaged lives a terrible episode that must be corrected.

“The Jesuits have a long and rich history in the Northwest and there are many who reached the highest virtues of their calling,” said Allison, a Gonzaga law school graduate. “But there also has been great harm done to very vulnerable people, both by bad priests, and the failure of their leaders to take action when the problem was plainly known or knowable.”

Jesuit officials declined to answer questions and referred reporters to prepared statements.

Among the unknowns is how much more money can be wrung from insurers, who have paid tens of millions in settlements.

The statement did offer an apology: “Our hope is that by filing Chapter 11, we can begin to bring this sad chapter in our Province’s history to an end. We continue to pray for all those who have been hurt by the actions of a few men, so that they can receive the healing and reconciliation that they deserve.”

Link (here)

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