John Doe Sues Fort Worth Diocese for Sexual Abuse

It may be more than ten years since Monsignor James Reilly died, but an alleged abuse victim, using the name John Doe, has filed charges against his diocese. 

The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth is defending itself against a case that is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.  Diocese records show that they have already settled no less that 18 other abuse cases.

Reilly has been charged with engaging Doe in sexual acts on church property - at Arlington's St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church - from 1973 to 1974.  

Pat Svacina, the spokesperson for the diocese said, "We do not know who this victim is, so we cannot know the details of the lawsuit because it's filed under the name John Doe.  It will be when we are further into the lawsuit before we know what's going on."

Reilly was the priest at St. Maria Goretti from November of 1969 until his retirement in October of 1987.  He died on May 2, 1999. 

Steven Schulte, Doe's attorney, claims that the abuse occurred while Doe was an adolescent and has asked to remain anonymous.  Schulte said, "The reason we take these lawsuits is to protect the children.  I'm fully aware of instances of inappropriate sexual misconduct between priests and parishioners dating back to the '60s through today. I think it's truly unfortunate and sad that Monsignor Reilly harmed so many individuals. I'm aware of numerous victims. But even one victim is too much."

Reilly has been connected to 19 different victims in separate lawsuits.  Tahira Khan Merritt, a Dallas-based attorney that represents all of them, said that the priest molested children between the ages of 9 and 16.  Her clients reported to her that Reilly would remove them from their classrooms, take them into the church rectory, and molest them there.

Merritt said that since Reilly was at St. Maria Goretti's for his entire career it enabled him to victimize several different groups of altar boys.  She expects other victims will now come forward as well.

A representative from the DFW chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, Lisa Kendzior, said most children don't come forward; they will wait until they are stronger, usually as an adult, to tell their stories.  As children they are afraid that what they report is ugly and will not be well-received by their parents.

Some, per Kendzior, never say a word and just try to function well in society.  These people are sometimes easy prey for falling for substances such as drugs and alcohol, which can also lead to abuse.  Going to court, she contends, heals their wounds.

Kendzior said, "Children often do not tell these stories.  The average person coming in our door is a middle-aged person. First, they try to put it behind him. But like anything that's vile, it has to come out."
 
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