Wednesday, October 10, 2007
BISHOP IN CONTEMPT ?
Spirit Daily links this story:
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A judge began criminal contempt-of-court proceedings Tuesday against the Roman Catholic bishop of Orange County in a highly unusual hearing that marks the first time a U.S. bishop could face jail time in the church sex abuse scandal.
Bishop Tod D. Brown waived his arraignment for allegedly violating a court order when he sent Msgr. John Urell, a high-ranking church official, out of the country before he could complete his testimony in a lawsuit. He could face a range of punishments from a verbal reprimand to jail time if found in contempt.
Plaintiff's lawyers had expected Orange County Superior Court Judge Gail Andler to dismiss their contempt filing because the sexual abuse lawsuit that led to it was one of four sexual abuse lawsuits settled last week by the Diocese of Orange for a total of nearly $7 million.
The bishop's attorney, Peter Callahan, said outside court they wanted to go forward to "clear the bishop's name."
Continue reading...
