Wuerl, Zubik Sued; Did Vatican Know About Sex Abuse Cover-Up?

PITTSBURGH, PA - As Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro alleged Tuesday that the Vatican knew of the cover-up of child sex abuse by priests, the first lawsuit since the scathing grand jury report detailing the abuse was filed against the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Shapiro told NBC’s “Today” show that while he can’t say specifically that Pope Francis was aware of the sex abuse allegations, “We have evidence that the Vatican had knowledge of the cover-up.” He did not detail what evidence existed.

In Pittsburgh, attorney Alan Perer announced he had filed a lawsuit on behalf of James Saitta, who as a child was sexually abused by a priest. The named defendants are the Pittsburgh diocese, Bishop David A. Zubik, and Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Zubik’s predecessor as Pittsburgh bishop.

This lawsuit appears to be the first filed since the grand jury report identified more than 300 predator priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses, 99 of whom were from Pittsburgh. Shapiro has accused Zubik and Wuerl, of Washington D.C., of covering up the crimes.Both men have denied that charge.

The lawsuit is based on information in the grand jury report taken from diocese records including information regarding John S. Hoehl, who was a diocesan priest, pastor and high school headmaster.

The report cited more than 20 complaints of sexual abuse of children by Hoehl in diocese files, most of which happened during the period while James Saitta was being abused, the lawsuit contends. There was also a Canadian treatment center diagnosis of Hoehl as a pedophile and admitted sex offender, the lawsuit noted.

The lawsuit alleges that Saitta was sexually assaulted as a minor numerous times by Hoehl between 1979 and 1984, starting when Saitta was 12 years old. The alleged abuse occurred at Hoehl's residence at the Quigley School in Baden, Beaver County, and at his cabin in Somerset.

Because of the cover-up of Hoehl's sexual abuse history, Saitta was unable to file a civil lawsuit against the diocese within the existing statute of limitations, the lawsuit contends.

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