http://www.newswatch50.com/news/local/s ... D9A1FCA6A9Cunningham among Bishops named in lawsuit
10/6/06
Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Cunningham was served papers last week for a lawsuit filed in Wisconsin.
The lawsuit names every Roman Catholic diocese and its Bishop across the United States.
The legal action seeks to force Bishops to disclose the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused abusive priests, estimating there are 5,000.
It's filed by relatives of Dan O'Connell of Wisconsin, whose family says was shot and killed by a priest in 2002.
According to the family, O'Connell had uncovered information about the priest molesting children. O'Connell and a co-worker were shot and killed.
After police interrogated Father Ryan Erickson about the murders, he committed suicide in December 2004, the O'Connell family said.
The lawsuit does not seek any monetary award.
Bishop Cunningham was among 17 Bishops served lawsuit papers last week. Tom O'Connell said all 178 Bishops should be served within a couple of weeks.
Diocese of Ogdensburg officials referred comment to their attorney, John Mellon. Mellon's office staff said he is out of town until next Wednesday.
