The following is the text of a press release, dated Dec. 13, 2005, from New York attorney John Aretakis regarding Father Robert Hoatson, a Catholic priest who is suing the New York and Newark archdioceses, the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Albany diocese. Following that is the unedited text of the lawsuit itself. Note: The lawsuit text does contain some graphic language.
There will be a Press Conference on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at NATION, a restaurant located at 12 West 45th Street in Manhattan. (Take elevator to 3rd floor, private room.)
Fr. Robert Hoatson, currently a Newark Archdiocese priest and former Christian Brother is suing the Newark and New York Archdiocese, the Albany Diocese and the Christian Brothers for 5 Million Dollars for the Church's and his employers’ retaliation and harassment due to the fact that Fr. Hoatson has been outspoken and critical of predatory priests in the church and for the sexual abuse he suffered as a seminarian, and most importantly for assisting victims of clergy sexual abuse for the last 3 years.
The document issued by the Vatican rejecting homosexuality of seminarian candidates was issued for purposes of public relations. The Vatican continues to describe homosexuality as a mental disorder when the Vatican is aware that over two-thirds of bishops, priests and religious in the United States are homosexual and are living homosexual lives.
Fr. Hoatson and his counsel do not agree (as does the Vatican) that homosexuality is a mental disorder and we believe that homosexuals should be afforded all gay and civil rights. The Vatican and American churches’ hypocrisy and fear of homosexuality issues is in part responsible for the atmosphere of clergy sexual abuse. Because so many in ministry are hiding their own secrets from the Vatican, bishops have been blackmailed into protecting predators and pedophiles in ministry, and to retaliate against good priests such as Fr. Hoatson.
Robert F. Kennedy once stated if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem, and Fr. Hoatson is one of few priests nationally who is part of the solution. We believe he is the first priest in good standing to sue his own employer for these acts since the onset of the clergy abuse crisis.
Even though there is no connection between homosexuality and pedophilia, sexual predators have been protected, concealed and affirmatively assisted by those in power or positions of trust because such an overwhelming percentage of clergy and bishops are compromised by their own hypocrisy, or fear of blackmail by predators.
View the Lawsuit: Click Here
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Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic journalist and commentator. He is a columnist for and/or contributor to MichNews.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, RenewAmerica.us, Catholic.org, Opeds.com and Speroforum.com. He is also an occasional contributor to "The Wanderer" Catholic newspaper. He can be reached at mattcabbott@hotmail.com.
