Tucson Predatory Catholic Priests
According to allegations raised in a lawsuit filed on behalf of at least three survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, the Church used southern Arizona as a “dumping ground” for priests suspected of predatory behavior against children.
The complaint (PDF) was originally brought in Arizona federal court in late December, on behalf of two individuals who indicate they were abused as children in the Tuscon area, after priests were transferred from the St. John’s Seminary in Los Angelos. However, a third named plaintiff was added to the lawsuit last month, raising similar allegations against the Archdiocese of Los Angelos, The Diocese of Tucson and St. John’s Seminary.
Each of the three plaintiffs claim that known or suspected child sex abusers were purposefully shunted from the Seminary to the Diocese of Tucson, instead of having their crimes reported to the police. This left children in the Diocese as prey for known abusers, according to the lawsuit, which presents racketeering claims that are usually reserved for criminal organizations like drug cartels and the mafia.