Costa Mesa police are looking into allegations by a now 24-year-old man that a Roman Catholic priest sexually abused him when he was a second grader at St. John the Baptist Church's school. The man, Jonathan Kirrer, has filed an Orange County, California sexual abuse lawsuit. In his complaint, he is accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange of conspiring to hide the alleged abuse incidents involving him. Now, prosecutors are debating whether to file criminal charges against Lyons.
This latest Southern California clergy abuse lawsuit comes just four years after the diocese reached a $100 million settlement with 90 victims who claimed they had been abused by Catholic priests in the area. Some of the victims had identified Lyons as their abuser.
Also, previous criminal charges against Lyons for child molestation stemming as far back as more than 20 years were dropped in 2003 after the US Supreme Court invalidated a California law that allowed for the prosecution of old sex abuse cases. In 2002, Lyons had to vacate his post at a parish in Dana Point after he was accused of molesting a teenage boy.
Kirrer's Orange County, California sexual abuse lawsuit accuses Lyon of molesting the then-second grader at least four times between 1994 and 1995. Alleged incidents of molestation include involving Lyon taking Kirrer's arm and making the boy touch him and another incident when the priest allegedly used the boy's hand to engage in a sexual act.
Kirrer's California clergy abuse lawsuit is seeking damages. A civil trial is set to begin in May.
Clergy Sex Abuse
Over the years, the Roman Catholic Church paid millions of dollars to victims who were abused by priests and other clergy members. The Church has also come under fire for covering up these abuse incidents and, rather than making sure that children were protected, transferring the abusers to other dioceses where many of them would go on to abuse more victims.
If you or someone you love has been a victim of abuse, even if the incident happened in the past, there are legal remedies that could allow you to obtain your California personal injury compensation.
O.C. priest is focus of suit over alleged molestation, LA Times, February 11, 2009
Priest abuse claim appears to fall within the statute of limitations, OC Register, February 11, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Abuse in the Catholic Church, The Boston Globe
