Archdiocese Accused of Cover Up, Intimidation, in Abuse Case
Posted on Nov 25, 2010 1:50pm PST
A lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of San Antonio for covering up repeated sexual assaults of a 12-year-old boy, failure to notify the Floresville parish where the abuse occurred and having a priest intimidate a parish from helping other abuse victims, as reported in My San Antonio news.
According to the lawsuit filed in Bexar County, the repeated abuse began almost 35 years ago.
Louis White, a former priest also named in the suit, was an associate pastor of Wilson County's Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 1976-1977. At that time he allegedly molested the victim, now 46 years old, up to three times a week for six months. The abuse took place in his bedroom, a shop at the rectory and in the church.
The suit doesn't specify the amount of damages being sought.
The archdiocese sent public notices in March of 2009 saying that there were "believable" sexual assault accusations involving a male teen - that occurred from 1978 to 1982 at San Fernando Cathedral - that name two former priests and White.
Fifteen parishes where the men had served published notices in their bulletins, and a news release was posted on the archdiocesan website. The notices urged others with any concerns to contact the archdiocese.
White's parish in Floresville was "inadvertently omitted" and has since been added.
The release stated that White abused the teen in 1981 and was removed from the priesthood, though no reason was disclosed, in 1989.
Pat Rodgers, the spokesman for the San Antonio Archdiocese, declined any comment, as is policy for cases pending litigation.
Years ago the San Antonio archdiocese admitted to 58 reports of abuse against 20 priests that served between 1950 and 2002. At that time there were a total of 2,113 active priests in the diocese.
During that time the diocese paid out more than $5.2 million in settlements.
White befriended the anonymous victim -an altar boy and student in the parish school - when he rescued the boy from bullies one day.
It is alleged that Father Joseph Hybner, the church pastor, caught the two dressing in White's bedroom after an assault. The pastor "yelled", "scolded" and had White transferred soon after.
Hybner is still a priest in the Victoria diocese and has not returned a phone call for comment.
During a Mass in the Floresville parish, less than two years ago, the alleged victim witnessed an archdiocesan priest "chastising anyone that would come forward about being abused". The suggestion, to make penance for themselves and the abusive priest, frustrated the victim.
Lori Watson, attorney for the victim stated, "Part of the frustration for our client is this trying to silence any victims or anyone trying to come forward. He had a lot of problems throughout his life and never connected the problems to his abuse. He suppressed the abuse for years and wasn't aware the church knew."
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