Helena Diocese Sex Abuse Information

Protecting Today's Children

____________________________________________________________________
September 22, 2011

(HELENA, MT) - Thirty-four men and women sexually abused as children by
Catholic priests filed a civil lawsuit late yesterday against the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Helena. Hundreds more victims, abused from the 1950s to
the 1980s, are likely to follow, attorneys say. The lawsuit contains 200
John Doe and Jane Doe "placeholder" names, anticipating a large number of
plaintiffs to follow.

The case was filed in Montana First Judicial District Court of Lewis and
Clark County in Helena, Montana.

The lawsuit is significant in that it asks the court for a comprehensive
list of non-monetary remedies on behalf of victims, including an attorney
general investigation into the diocese.

Earlier this year, the Society of Jesus, Northwest Province, agreed to pay
$166 million to settle more than 500 sex-abuse claims throughout the Pacific
Northwest. Many of the victims in that case attended Montana schools,
churches and missions operated by the Helena diocese. Attorneys say the
Helena diocese must now answer for its own "gross negligence," even though
the Jesuit case has settled. Today's lawsuit includes individuals who have
come forth for the first time, as well as those who sued the Jesuits.

"It's wrong what happened to me and to other children," said Dana Short, 49,
a Bozeman, Montana resident who was abused when she was 8 years old by Fr.
Bernard Harris while attending St. Francis Xavier Church in Missoula.

"People need to know about what happened. I don't want it swept under the
rug."

Short, who previously filed suit against the Jesuits, said she was angered
to learn that the Helena diocese chose not to participate or make amends
with victims in that case.

"This case is more important to me than the Jesuit case."

Tim Kosnoff, a Seattle attorney specializing in sex-abuse cases, said this
case is first and foremost is about public safety. Kosnoff said the Helena
diocese is lax in warning parents of dangers and continues to put children
at risk. Notably, the diocese's web site offers no information about
credibly accused abusers. Multiple serial abusers from the Helena diocese
were identified in the Jesuit case.

"We're calling upon the Diocese of Helena to identify all abusers about whom
it has received complaints," Kosnoff said. "We want to know where they're
currently assigned, if any are in active ministry and whether they have
reported information to the police."

The Helena diocese has a less-than-stellar record of prioritizing safety.

The previous leader, Bishop Eldon Curtiss, reassigned Rev. Wilson Smart
despite credible pedophilia allegations that first emerged in 1959. Curtiss
said he had failed to examine the priest's personnel file. But in
1993, Curtiss
admitted that he removed letters documenting abuse from the file,
acknowledging "shortsightedness and misjudgment."

The current bishop, Bishop Thomas, was No. 2 man to Archbishop Alexander
Brunett in Seattle, who kept known abusers in the ministry, despite credible
allegations. That worries plaintiffs' attorneys.

Kosnoff is joined by Missoula law firm Datsopoulos, McDonald and Lind, and
James Vernon and Weeks of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Among the names mentioned in today's court filing is a list of notorious,
credibly accused sex-abusers spanning more than 30 years. Alleged abusers
from the Helena diocese include Rev. Bernard Harris, accused of molesting
boys in Missoula years ago. "Father Harry," as he was known, would take
boys on camping trips to a private cabin, where he would molest them.

Another notorious offender cited in the complaint is Rev. A. J.
Ferretti. "Father
Freddy," as he was called, would use false pretexts to remove students from
their classmates at the St. Ignatius Mission. He had a practice of raping
children by bouncing them violently in his lap, court papers say.

Anyone with information about abuse in the Diocese of Helena can visit http://www.kosnoff.com/PracticeAreas/JesuitAbuseInfo.html

or
http://abusedinmontana.com or call 888-667-0683.

*Credibly accused abusers*

*Location(s) of abuse*

Fr. Bernard Harris

St. Ignatius Mission, St. Ignatius

Fr. A. J. Ferretti ("Father Freddy")

St. Ignatius Mission

Fr. Bernard Harris ("Father Harry")

St. Francis Xavier School, Church Missoula

Fr. William Burke ("Father Burke")

St. Francis Xavier School

Brother Rene Gallant ("Brother Charlie")

Arlee, Montana

Fr. Edward Robinson ("Father Eddy")

St. Ignatius Mission

Sister Lawrence

St. Ignatius Mission

Fr. James Barry, Butte and Thompson Falls

Father Sullivan, St. Mary's, Butte

Father Delaney, St. Mary's, Butte

Father Dimmick, St. Ignatius

Father Balfe, St. Ignatius

Father Wilson Smart

(Moved around frequently by Diocese. He was in St. Peter's School in Anaconda, St. Ann's school in Butte, St. Richards in Columbia Falls, Lady of Mercy in Eureka.)

http://www.kosnoff.com/PracticeAreas/JesuitAbuseInfo.html

We are skilled in helping victims of priest sex abuse seek justice and heal.  We have extensive experience with tribal members and non-Natives, and have handled hundreds of sex-abuse and physical abuse claims.

When you contact us, you will be treated with care and respect, and you will be given information about the Jesuit bankruptcy process.  All of your questions will be answered, and your concerns will be addressed compassionately and accurately.

If you prefer, call the toll-free number, 1-888-667-0683, and you will be connected with a member of the victim rights legal team.