Sioux City diocese faces more lawsuits
9:48 AM
Posted: Tuesday, September 05, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Three more lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by a priest have been filed against the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Sioux City and a former priest accused of molesting more than two dozen children since the 1950s.
The lawsuits, filed in Woodbury County, name the diocese and the Rev. George McFadden. He worked in numerous parishes from the 1950s until his retirement in the 1990s.
McFadden, who is now in his 80s, lives in Fort Wayne, Ind.
In two of the latest lawsuits, two men accused McFadden of sexual abusing them while he was at St. Francis church in Jefferson from 1969 to 1972. The third man accuses McFadden of abusing him from 1971 to 1972.
The lawsuits also accuse the diocese of a cover-up. Diocese spokesman Jim Wharton declined to comment.
McFadden retired in 1992 and continued to hear confession and say Mass at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.
In December 2005, the Vatican ordered McFadden to cease public ministry and have no contact with children. He also was ordered to live a life of prayer and penance.
The lawsuits, filed in Woodbury County, name the diocese and the Rev. George McFadden. He worked in numerous parishes from the 1950s until his retirement in the 1990s.
McFadden, who is now in his 80s, lives in Fort Wayne, Ind.
In two of the latest lawsuits, two men accused McFadden of sexual abusing them while he was at St. Francis church in Jefferson from 1969 to 1972. The third man accuses McFadden of abusing him from 1971 to 1972.
The lawsuits also accuse the diocese of a cover-up. Diocese spokesman Jim Wharton declined to comment.
McFadden retired in 1992 and continued to hear confession and say Mass at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.
In December 2005, the Vatican ordered McFadden to cease public ministry and have no contact with children. He also was ordered to live a life of prayer and penance.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
nan wrote on Sep 5, 2006 9:40 PM: