New Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Yakima Catholic Diocese
St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima
More troubles for the Yakima Catholic Diocese as a fifth lawsuit claiming sex abuse by a priest is filed. The victim says the abuse happened during the 1970s when he was 15 years old.
In a lawsuit filed this month by a Yakima Valley man, he claims he was sexually abused in the 1970s when he was a 15 year old altar boy serving at St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima.
"Our client was heavily involved in the church and Father Calhoun used his position within the church to sexually abuse him," says attorney Vito de la Cruz, who's representing the man now in his 50s.
The suit claims Father Ernest Dale Calhoun abused the victim over a period of 18 months. This latest lawsuit now brings the number of abuse cases filed against the Yakima Diocese to five. Over the years there have been four other complaints against Father Calhoun.
"Violation of trust, certainly we're very sorry for the abuse the victim in this new case has suffered at the hands of Father Calhoun,' says Diocese spokesperson Father Robert Siler.
The Diocese says it's spent about a million dollars settling several sex abuse claims and another million and a half in legal fees responding to those claims.
The alleged victim,is suffering from colon cancer. His lawyer hopes his client will be around to see the priest brought to justice.
"I hope that his cancer treatments is such that it permits him to be able to testify," says de la Cruz.
The alleged victim's attorney says it's not known when this case will be brought to trial.