By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 19,11:54 PM ET
CLEVELAND - Bishop Anthony M. Pilla testified Tuesday in a defamation case against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland that he twice reassigned a priest who allegedly 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 bishop said he did not inform either parish about the priest's past. He added that he did not know if subordinates might have.
The statements came in a 4 1/2-hour deposition in a defamation lawsuit filed against the diocese by alleged victim Christopher Kodger and his parents. They accuse the diocese of falsely stating in 2002 that they supported Mulica's reassignment. The deposition was released by the court.
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Pilla is not a defendant in the case, which is scheduled for a jury trial in January. The family is asking for damages of more than $25,000.
