Lawyer urges more investigation

FORT WORTH - A Dallas attorney who has represented several victims of clergy abuse said Friday that Tarrant County prosecutors should be more aggressive in examining Fort Worth Catholic Diocese files.

Attorney Tahira Khan Merritt also said diocese officials should give files to prosecutors instead of simply reviewing them themselves and passing information on to local law enforcement officials.

Merritt's comments came in the wake of several disclosures the diocese made Wednesday of new allegations against priests from people who said they were abused in the 1960s and 1970s. Merritt said she does not believe that a full disclosure has been made of secret church files despite a state district judge's order that the diocese do so.

Since December, the Tarrant County district attorney's office has studied documents released by the diocese, said David Montague, an assistant district attorney.

"We've done some interviews, but we haven't filed anything formally or opened a case," he said.

Diocese officials appealed to victims late last year to contact them. The diocese's conduct review board has been studying allegations for the past three months and reported them to local law enforcement authorities and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, said the Rev. Michael Olson, vicar general and overseer of the diocese's conduct review board.

He said the diocese will continue to review personnel files, disclose information and seek healing of abuse victims.

Some of the accused priests are dead, Merritt said, "but there maybe cases where if victims come forward now, the priests who are still alive can be prosecuted."

Two representatives of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests held a news conference Friday outside police headquarters in Fort Worth. Kristopher Galland and Helen Daly, both of Dallas, also called for county prosecutors to be more proactive. They say the diocese has done little to discipline wrongdoers.

IN THE KNOW

Contacts

To report sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, call Judy Locke, victims'assistance coordinator at the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth,817-560-2452, ext. 201; the Rev. Michael Olson at 817-560-3300, ext.107; or 877-SNAPHEALS (877-762-7432).