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News » Defense calling witnesses in church fraud trial
May 18, 2012
Several priests took the witness stand yesterday, as the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay tries to fight claims that it knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against a priest, before he sexually assaulted two boys.
Former priest John Feeney assaulted brothers Troy and Todd Merryfield in 1978, when he was assigned to St. Nicholas Parish in Freedom.
Father Willard Van De Loo was on the diocese priest personnel board in the mid-1970s. That panel heard complaints about priests, and advised the bishop. He says he never heard any complaints about Feeney.
Another priest testified yesterday that he heard rumors about Feeney swimming nude with children, and showering with them after a basketball game, but didn't feel it was his responsibility to look deeper into the issue.
The Merryfield brothers are suing the diocese for fraud, claiming that church officials knew about the earlier allegations, but didn't warn the public. |
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