Sex abuse lawsuit names San Antonio archdiocese

Associated Press ^ | 4-8-10 | Michelle Roberts

[Dr. Eckleburg]

A West Texas teen filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Archdiocese of San Antonio and Archbishop Jose Gomez alleging repeated sexual assaults by a parish priest, who he says the church's leadership should have known was abusive.

The allegations came just days after Gomez was named to a high-profile post leading the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he is scheduled to be formally introduced to parishioners in May.

The lawsuit accuses the Rev. John M. Fiala of repeatedly sexually assaulting the teen, including twice forcing him to have sex at gunpoint when Fiala was the pastor at Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in the remote community of Rocksprings. The lawsuit alleges the incidents occurred in 2007 and 2008, during Gomez's tenure overseeing a swath of south and west Texas.

[Judith Anne]

Mary is dead. She is in heaven.

Wait -- ?

[ArrogantBustard]

THE RULES:

Rule One: "Rome" is the locus of all evil in the universe.

Rule Two: In case of doubt, see Rule One.

Corollary: "Rome" must be destroyed. All else is irrelevant.

[Hieronymus]

She was a sinner, just like you and me,

---

While Mary is the first to proclaim that she is in need of Christ as a Savior (Luke 1:47), I would not say that she is just like me. I for one have not had an archangel appear to me lately and proclaim me to be full of grace, but perhaps it has happened to you. I have never heard of another Catholic having such an experience. Maybe it is common among Calvinists, though my mother, who is a convert, never mentioned it.

[Judith Anne]

Mary is better than I am, and I love her for everything she does and has done. She is highly favored, and I call her blessed.

Some people can’t stand to acknowledge that, though, and have to tear down the saints, to make themselves feel better I guess.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Mary’s sins were no less scarlet than yours or mine.