Bishop Pilla questioned in court over sex abuse questions

[Algorem]

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=38141

POSTED: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 5:56:57 PM
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 8:35:52 PM

CLEVELAND -- The court ordered Bishop Anthony Pilla to report to the Justice Center to answer questions about what he knew of sexual abuse cases in the Cleveland Diocese.

The deposition focuses on what Pilla knew about claims of abuse 21 years ago at a Kirtland church.

A former priest at Divine Word Church was accused of molesting 14-year-old Christopher Kodger

The Cleveland Catholic Diocese and Pilla are being sued for the truth of what was known and what was done about Father James Mulica (pictured). The suit wants to know was this complaint swept under the rug and Mulica reassigned by church administrators?...

[MichiganVote]

1. Well its about frickin' time these guys were hauled into court

[Algorem]

2. Cleveland bishop says he reassigned abusive priest

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-18/112182331154810.xml&storylist=cleveland

7/19/2005, 10:43 p.m. ET
By JOE MILICIA
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — Bishop Anthony M. Pilla testified Tuesday in a defamation case against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that he twice reassigned a priest who sexually assaulted a minor.

Pilla said the decision was made after the priest, the Rev. James Mulica, had been treated for an alcohol problem at a treatment center for Catholic clergy.

"I was told that the mental experts at Guest House had indicated that Father Mulica could be reassigned to ministry without any restrictions," Pilla said.

The statement came in a 4 1/2-hour deposition in a defamation lawsuit filed against the diocese by abuse victim Christopher Kodger and his parents. They accuse the diocese of falsely stating in 2002 that they supported Mulica's reassignment...

[Algorem]

3. Former school girls criticize bishop over abuse cases

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=1639787&mesg_id=1639787

7/20/2005, 9:26 p.m. ET
By M.R. KROPKO
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — A day after testifying in a sex abuse-related case, Bishop Anthony Pilla was criticized by three women who say he broke promises he made after they accused a former priest of abusing them 40 years ago.

They said Pilla and the diocese did not apologize and make disclosures about the priest who they say abused them.

The timing of their comments on a sidewalk outside of the diocese headquarters at St. John Cathedral was a coincidence to Pilla's testimony Tuesday in a civil case, said Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul, Minn.-based lawyer for the women. He said they planned to go public about a month ago and picked the day and location without realizing the bishop was involved in another sex abuse case requiring his testimony.

Anderson said the women are among five he represented in a private mediation hearing that resulted in a settlement in 2003...

[IndianaGreen]

4. But Bishop Pilla is a staunch opponent of gay marriage

and women priests! How dare the court take this man away from his more important mission? Let's hear from Ratzinger!

[drhilarius]

5. I'll spare you the suspense...

Ratzie: Those boys, spurred on by this homosexual culture, seduced those innocent, pious men!

[saigon68]

7. Pilla takes a blind eye to men in robes molesting children

What's the idiot think anyway.

His scummy carcass should be hauled out in the street and STONED.

[DanCa]

6. Lets see and they tried to deny Kerry communion for being pro choice.

Nice set of priorities there.

[dsc]

8. Wait, there's more

http://andrejkoymasky.com/mem/rok/rok2.html

St. Ignatius Declined Gay Talk

Hoping to have some goodness come from Robbie's death, Leslie spoke with Rory Henessy, who is in charge of discipline at St. Ignatius, and the school's principal, Richard Clark.

"I told Mr. Henessy the same thing that I told Father Lewis at the funeral home -- that there are other Robbies at their school. I told him that Robbie's therapist offered to talk to the school. I said I would come and read something about Robbie's life and about his being gay."

The school has politely declined Leslie's offers, and principal Clark reiterated that the "message of the school is kindness and tolerance." He also said that St. Ignatius is planning to do a mass that will focus on the issue of suicide.

"The funny part of all this," Leslie said, "is that Robbie would have wanted to stay in the closet."

"I see him laughing at me, saying 'Oh, mom, this is my mom--always trying to help people."

end of quote

Robbie killed himself due to his being gay and tormented at his school. Under Pilla this was the response this school had. You can read the whole sad story at the link.

[Rockholm]

9. Maybe Santorum Can Blame "Liberal Boston" for this too?

[Algorem]

10. Attorney accuses Bishop Pilla of perjury

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005 11:58:00 AM
UPDATED: Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:13:37 PM

CLEVELAND -- The attorney for the family suing the Cleveland Diocese for defamation is now accusing Bishop Pilla of perjury.

The Kodger family says their son was sexually abused by a priest and they were not consulted before the bishop put Father James Mulica back in the diocese.


A May 17th letter from Father Edward Weist addressed to Bishop Pilla indicates the Kodger family was consulted before the diocese let Father Mulica return to ministry.


Pilla said in testimony that he doesn’t recall the letter...

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=38204