Archdiocese of Detroit Comments on Sigler Case

    DETROIT, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from the
 Archdiocese of Detroit regarding the filing of a civil lawsuit:
 
     A news briefing was held in Detroit Tuesday morning, August 12, regarding
 the filing of a civil lawsuit which names Jason Sigler, the Archdiocese of
 Detroit, the Diocese of Lansing, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and The Servants
 of the Paraclete.
 
     "The only complaint brought to the Archdiocese of Detroit regarding Jason
 Sigler came forward in April of 2002.  It was immediately turned over to civil
 authorities and subsequently resulted in a conviction by the Wayne County
 Prosecutor.  Jason Sigler, while a priest of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg,
 Manitoba, was a priest in-residence at two parishes in the Archdiocese of
 Detroit for two months in 1970 and for seven months in 1976.
     "There is no deadline or time limitation for bringing forth information to
 the Victim Assistance Coordinator* of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  As stated
 in the Revised Policy on The Sexual Abuse of Minors, the archdiocese ' ...
 seeks to alleviate the hurt and assist in the healing of victims of sexual
 abuse.  This outreach shall include provisions for counseling, spiritual
 assistance and, with the cooperation of others, developing support groups.'
     "As it relates to the Vatican Order issued in 1962, it is overreaching, if
 not misleading, to take a 40-year old document out of context and try to give
 it a meaning its authors never intended.  At no point does the document
 remotely consider the question of reporting civil crimes or attempt to stop
 them from being reported."
 
                           Statement from Ned McGrath
                           Director of Communications
                           Tuesday, 12th August, 2003
 
     * The toll-free, 24x7 Victim Assistance Line for the Archdiocese of
 Detroit is (866) 343-8055.  More information is available on the Internet at
 aodonline.org, select Helping You.
 
 

SOURCE  Archdiocese of Detroit