Phil Gaughan, a Delaware resident that grew up in Philadelphia, has filed a sexual abuse lawsuit naming the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua and Cardinal Justin Rigali as defendants, as reported by CNN.
Also named in the suit, per clergy abuse attorneys, are staff members that work for the diocese.
Gaughan, now 31, has claimed that he was sexually abused – when he attended Philadelphia’s Our Lady of Calvary parish from 1994 to 1997 – by Reverend John E. Gillespie.
Due to having a son of his own, now 7 years old, Gaughan felt compelled to file his lawsuit. In a news conference on March 7 Gaughan said, “I don't want anyone to go through what I have gone through.
Words can't describe it, nothing has changed (with the church).”
According to the complaint Gaughan was 14 years old when Rev. Gillespie began abusing him. Gaughan’s post at the parish was as its “sacristan”.
The parish sacristan prepares, and then cleans up, the church sanctuary before and after Mass.
Dan Monahan, Gaughan’s attorney said, “Phil was brave enough to come forward and put a face to the real tragedy that's been happening not only to him, but probably countless other in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.”
Gaughan will not allow his young son to participate in the Catholic church as a sacristan, and he himself – no longer attending Mass – has difficulty with his own faith.
In October 2010 Gaughan first admitted what had happened to his wife, then his parents, his extensive Irish-Catholic family and finally, the Victim Assistance Coordinator with the archdiocese.
His first attempt at contact with the archdiocese’s coordinator was fruitless as the conversation took 15 minutes and, during the second, he was just referred to a physician.
In his frustration Gaughan said, “I want change. Something has to be done to protect the kids.”
Gaughan’s father, Philip J. Gaughan, claims that Rev. Gillespie was a friend to the Gaughan family for almost 40 years and that both he and his wife had always been very proud of the work their son was doing for the church.
Philip J. Gaughan said, “It's a shock for a parent, it challenges our faith. You have to think, how didn't we know, and why didn't he tell us.”
The Philadelphia Archdiocese has been under recent scrutiny by the Philadelphia Attorney’s Office for other claims of abuse entailing rape and assault of boys. A former Philadelphia Archdiocese official, Monsignor William Lynn, has also been accused of allowing abusive priests to have access to children.
The Gaughan lawsuit reads, “Archdiocese officials conspired to endanger the safety of the plaintiff when they actively concealed their knowledge of priest's previous offenses, lied to parishioners, and created a sham sexual abuse victim assistance program for the Archdiocese.”
Gaughan affirms though that “this isn’t about money. No other kid should have to go through this. No other person should have to live with this for two minutes, let alone 15 years.”
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