Current and former leaders of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix used "every means in their power" to keep a man from going public with allegations he was raped by a priest in 1987, a lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court claims.
The lawsuit, filed June 20, claims nine officials —
including Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien, Vicar-General Dale Fushek and Monsignor
Richard Moyer — used spiritual arguments and Victor DiGiovine’s devout
religious faith to keep the victim from filing a lawsuit or reporting the
claim.
O’Brien chose Moyer, 71, in May to be in charge of sexual misconduct issues for
the diocese.
The position opened as part of an immunity agreement between Maricopa County
Attorney Richard Romley and O’Brien. The bishop, who admitted covering up for
priests accused of child molestation, agreed to surrender most of his authority
in sexual misconduct cases.
O’Brien resigned last month after a fatal hit-andrun in Phoenix.
DiGiovine alleges the Rev. Saul Madrid drugged him and raped him.
Diocese spokesman Chris Gunty said the diocese is aware of an incident between
the two. Both men got counseling and Madrid is on administrative leave for
other issues, Gunty said. He declined further comment.
DiGiovine’s attorney did not return a call.
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office spokesman Bill FitzGerald said a yearlong
investigation into sexual misconduct by diocese priests and employees included
Madrid, but statute of limitation problems ended the inquiry.
In a related development Tuesday, the Rev. Lawrence Lovell, one of six priests
indicted after the yearlong investigation, turned himself in. Lovell is charged
with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and child molestation.