Pocono News Section

Retired Bishop Says He Placed Known Abusive Priests In Parishes

Retired Bishop Says He Placed Known Abusive Priests In Parishes - Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 7:30PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2007 @07:30pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Priests, housekeepers, secretaries and church workers testified all day Tuesday about a high-profile case of sexual abuse by a defrocked priest of the Scranton Diocese.

Disgraced former priest Albert Liberatore pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania and New York in 2004 to crimes of sexual abuse of a minor.

There have been years of preparation for the federal trial that focuses on allegations of abuse and cover-up within the Roman Catholic church in Northeast Pennsylvania. A video-taped deposition showed Retired Bishop James Timlin slamming his hands on a desk and admitting to returning abusive priests to active duty.

An eight-member jury is expected to sift through hundreds of hours of testimony in this trial.

Attorney Dan Brier is representing the Liberatore's victim. He claims the Scranton Diocese and its leaders perpetuated an atmosphere of abuse by allowing Liberatore to continue his priestly ministry at Sacred Heart Parish, Duryea, years after they learned he had been accused of sexual improprieties. Confidential documents released in court indicated church leaders had knowledge of Liberatore's problems as early as 1997.

Attorneys for the Diocese, Sacred Heart Parish, Bishop Timlin and Fr. Joseph Kopasz, former Vicar of the Diocese, balked at the allegations. James O'Brien told the court the victim is looking to hook the diocese on a verdict for money. He promised the jury would see a contradiction in what the victim's attorney had presented.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.