The FAQyMe Gene Archive: A Depository of Historic Child Sexual Abuse Data
In the Public Interest by Child Abuse Survivors and their Advocates in their Pursuit of Justice, Recognition, Recovery and Redress.
<< First
< Previous Current Page "555" Next
>
Last >>
Article Category: 2006 December
It's suit vs. suit in priest case
Description:
Article originally prepared on : 15 December 2006
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0612140330dec14,1,2529361.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
It's suit vs. suit in priest case
Accusers counter cleric's legal move
Two weeks after a Roman Catholic priest filed a defamation lawsuitagainst two brothers who said he sexually abused them, an attorney forthe alleged victims struck back Wednesday by suing the priest and theChicago archdiocese.
Rev. Robert Stepek, former pastor of St. Albert the Great Churchin Burbank, was removed from ministry last month after an archdiocesanreview board determined there was reasonable cause to suspect thatsexual abuse of minors occurred. Shortly after his removal, Stepekfiled a $4 million lawsuit against his accusers, stating that thesexual abuse allegations were false andretaliation for disagreementsbetween the priest and the two men.
According to Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP),Stepek is one of about a dozen priests who have sued their accusers.But victim advocates said the countersuit is believed to be the firstever filed in the U.S. against clergy. The suit filed in Cook CountyCircuit Court states that Stepek's actions have led the two accusers"to suffer severe and permanent emotional distress, embarrassment, lossof self-esteem and loss of religious faith." The suit also states thatany damage suffered by Stepek was not caused by the accusers but by thearchdiocese, which permitted confidential abuse information to becomepublic.
Attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing the accusers, said heis calling on Cardinal Francis George to order Stepek to withdraw hislawsuit and cease and desist from all further action until Vaticanproceedings in his case conclude.
"We took this action because the cardinal has been so woefullysilent," Anderson said during a news conference in his downtown Chicagolaw office. "The cardinal has the power to step in and stop Stepek. Heshould not allow these victims to be re-victimized."
In a statement released Tuesday by the archdiocese, ChancellorJimmy Lago said that last month following publicity about the matter,the cardinal instructed his counsel to write to the attorneys in thecase and ask them not to do anything that would undermine the process."However, we regret that the cardinal's advice and offer of assistancehave not been taken," Lago said in the statement.
Lago also wrote in the statement: "We cannot prevent anyone fromseeking redress from the courts and acknowledge that they have theright to do so. From time to time, persons bringing allegations againsta priest of the archdiocese of Chicago have chosen to bring their casesto the civil courts as well. The archdiocese respects those decisions."
In response to the lawsuit filed by the victims, Lago issuedanother statement Wednesday saying: "The archdiocese regrets whenanyone files a lawsuit in a misconduct matter, whether the person isclaiming abuse or acting in defense of a claim." Lago said thearchdiocese had notreviewed the new lawsuit. .
Phillip J. Zisook, Stepek's attorney, said he had not reviewed thelawsuit either. But Zisook said the idea that a person can destroysomeone's good name through false accusations and be left withoutremedy is "unconscionable."
----------
maramirez@tribune.com
If you wish to keep this article alive in the Internet Archive simply click the link below.
Click here to add this page to the Internet Archive
<< First
< Previous Current Page "555" Next
>
Last >>
Select from these TFYQA archives
Contact us if you have data you want to preserve.
Tell others, share this page on : X | BlueSky | Mastodon.Social | Strangeminds.Social | Facebook
Find us on X.com || New ID on Facebook || BlueSky || Mastodon.Social || Strangeminds.Social
trauma
informed human
rights justice failed
institutions UN Convention
on Human Rights Rights of the
Child and a Bill of Rights for Australia future evidence resilience not
providing or representing a secular Australia autodidact
Hegemony: The authority, dominance, and influence of one group, nation, or society over another
group, nation, or society; typically through cultural, economic, or political means.
. 
If you found this information to be of assistance please don't forget to donate so that we can
extend these resources to more survivors. These pages are focused on preserving survivor relevant information. Information is not provided as legal or professional
advice; it is provided as general information only and requires that you validate any information via
your own legal or other professional service providers.
You can directly support my work at here
Were you like so many others born into a constitutionally
protected God based death and rape culture?
Copyright The FAQyMe Gene
© 2022.
