An Illinois resident is suing the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI for allegedly covering up sexual molestation that occurred for two decades at a Wisconsin Catholic school. Internal documents released last month showed Vatican officials, including the future pope, decided not to defrock the Wisconsin-based priest Father Lawrence Murphy despite evidence he had molested as many 200 deaf boys. The unnamed plaintiff says he was one of Murphy’s victims. He also says he wrote the Vatican about Murphy in 1995 — one year earlier than when Vatican officials say they were first informed.
Vatican Sued for Alleged Cover-Up of Sexual Abuse
HeadlineApr 23, 2010