$8.7 million awarded in priest abuse case
The Burlington Free Press reports that "a Burlington jury issued a landmark verdict against the state’s Roman Catholic diocese Tuesday, ordering it to pay $8.7 million in damages to a former Burlington altar boy fondled multiple times by a priest the church knew was a child molester." Notably, "the case was brought in 2005 by a man, now 40 and living in Colorado, who alleged that as an altar boy at Christ the King Church in Burlington he was fondled from 40 to 100 times by the Rev. Edward Paquette between 1976 and 1978. The case, like 18 others alleging similar claims about Paquette, contends the diocese was to blame because it hired Paquette in 1972 despite knowing that he had molested altar boys at parishes in Indiana and Massachusetts, and then kept him on duty after he sexually abused youths in Rutland in 1974." Lawyers for the Diocese argued that "the church relied on the best available advice of church psychologists when it hired Paquette and contended it should not be sued now for misconduct that occurred more than 30 years ago." Bishop Salvatore Matano said that "the size of the verdict could pose serious problems for the diocese." He added the he would "have to look very seriously at what this verdict means [for] the services and the activities of the diocese."
VCF Staff
Diocese will appeal $8.7 million verdict
Vermont Public Radio reports that "lawyers for Vermont's Roman Catholic Church say they'll appeal an $8.7 million dollar verdict." Indeed, "the church's team of lawyers will file an appeal with the Vermont Supreme Court within the next 30 days." Church lawyer Kaveh Shahi said "he doesn't believe the church should face such a large penalty." He added, "The whole notion of punishment for events that happened 30-some odd years ago, today, with a charitable institution, is something that we feel should be addressed by an appellate court."
VCF Staff
Next priest sex abuse trial in August
Vermont Public Radio reports that "the next priest sex abuse trial against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is scheduled to begin in August." According to officials with the Chittenden County Superior Court, "the next three cases all involve allegations against the Rev. Edward Paquette, who is retired." In all, "there are about 20 cases pending against the diocese."
VCF Staff
Camp Ta-Kum-Ta will need new home
The Burlington Free Press reports that "Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for kids with cancer, announced Monday that it has begun looking for a new home after learning that a church-owned Colchester site it has rented for 24 years will be sold and won’t be available beyond this summer." According to Ted Kessler, director of the camp, "There will be a Camp Ta-Kum-Ta in 2009." He concluded, “We may not know where, not right at the moment, but we will have a camp.”
"Kessler said the decision to look for new quarters came after officials for the state’s Roman Catholic diocese, which owns the 26-acre site known as Camp Tara-Holy Cross, broke the news to his group that a sale was likely and not to plan on using the place next year." Notably, the decision on the property "comes three weeks after a Chittenden Superior Court jury ordered the diocese to pay $8.7 million in damages to a former altar boy molested at a Burlington church by the Rev. Edward Paquette between 1976 and 1978."
VCF Staff
Diocese settles abuse case
The Burlington Free Press reports that "the state's Roman Catholic diocese has agreed to an out-of-court settlement in a case filed by a man who alleged as a Montpelier altar boy he was repeatedly molested by the Rev. Edward Paquette in the mid-1970s." Notably, "the settlement [comes]less than two weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial at Chittenden County Superior Court. Another of the 20 pending priest sex abuse lawsuits will now take its place on the Aug. 5 trial docket."