New Developments In Priest Sexual Abuse Story

A new civil lawsuit has been filed by a man who claims he was sexually abused while a student at a Catholic seminary in Hannibal – by a priest who later became the Bishop of the Palm Beach Diocese. The man, not identifed by name in the lawsuit, says the abuse began 34 years ago, became a relationship, and ended nine years ago. The lawsuit names the Catholic dioceses of Jefferson City and Kansas City-St. Joseph, Knoxville, Tennessee and Palm Beach, Florida as defendants. Other defendants are the Vatican and now-former Bishop Anthony O’Connell. The lawsuit charges the church with racketeering because it hidinformation about priests committing sexual abuse and paid hush money to victims.