Interesting. Maybe this is why he resigned from the priesthood—so he could countersue. I doubt whether the bishop would have let him do this, but now he is free to do so.
I’m still reserving judgment on this, but it will be fascinating to see what happens down the road.
As for SNAP, it’s primary interest is in making big money through lawsuits. It’s secondary interest is bashing the Catholic Church. And it’s tertiary interest, at most, is helping the victims.
Ambulance chasers, or in this case priest chasers. Most priests can’t fight back, and the church can always sell off its schools and hospitals to pay them plenty money—at the cost of Catholic parishioners and charities.
He said a bishop of renown recommended he take this step saying it would be the only way he could clear his name.
Think about Fr. Corapi’s complaint - that the canonical courts are a crap shoot and wouldn't give him a fair shake.
It's clear that he was serious about that statement, in that he has sought out a court system with a modicum of justice in its process.
Furthermore, think about what he must do in a civil trial where he is claiming libel. He must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the statements made against him by the woman are false (among other things). This is more than the mere requirement of successfully defending against a charge - where the decent standard is innocence until proven guilty, and a successful defense need not prove innocence but merely cast into reasonable doubt the fact of guilt.
As you say, it will bear further following down the road, but if he is successful in his suit, then all his accusers will be required to eat crow. And go to confession in a very big way.
sitetest
Makes sense to me.