UPDATED: KGBT-TV-4 has coverage as well which can be found here. I love this part of the story:
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In speaking to neighbors in the area, they told us it wasn’t unusual to see young men frequent his [Rivera's] home.
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I noted the other day that the Knights of Columbus - probably the most powerful lay organization affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church with billions of dollars of assets of its own - has been hit with two lawsuits brought by former members of the Knights' youth organization, the Columbian Squires. As was the constant thread running through the sex abuse lawsuits brought against the Catholic Church and its dioceses, these two lawsuits allege that the powers that be within the Knights knew of the sexual abuse problems and - just like the Church hierarchy - endeavored to cover it up and/or silence victims. The Washington Post and the New York Times has picked up the scent of the story and have detailed reports. It's hard not to speculate that as with the Church itself, once these suits get publicity, other victims of the Knights may come forward. Given that the Knights have thrown aside concerns for families and children proven themselves to be sycophants to the Church hierarchy, there is indeed justice to see the Knights now called to account for the same sorts of abuse of children and youths. Here are highlights from the Times coverage in regard to the cover up allegations:*
One of the victims told Knights of Columbus officials in 1986 that he had been sexually abused by Rivera, but the Knights concealed the report of abuse and intimidated the victim into not making the abuse public, one lawsuit alleges.
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"His allegations and his coming forward was basically shut down," Jeffrey Herman, attorney for the men, said outside the Knights' headquarters in New Haven as he announced the two lawsuits. "We believe that the Knights of Columbus organization was aware of what was taking place."
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"It broadens the whole issue of the sexual abuse crisis and frankly further damages the Catholic Church's reputation," said Chuck Zech, director of the Center for the Study of Church Management at Villanova University.
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John Doe, who lives in Kansas, said Rivera plied him with whisky, marijuana, pornography and a white pill that he said would help him relax. He said when he hesitated to give Rivera a massage, Rivera pulled out a small handgun and placed it on the ground.
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Rivera sexually abused John Doe for six years on overnight trips for local and national events of the Squires, his lawsuit alleges. The man said if he told anyone, Rivera said he would kill his family or cut off a body part and send it to his mother, according to the lawsuit. Rivera also "shared" the boy with another adult leader of the Squires in another city who sexually abused him, the lawsuit alleges.
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The man also claimed the Knights of Columbus tried to trick him last year into signing papers that would have prevented him from suing for damages over the alleged abuse.
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The the morally bankrupt leadership of the Knights stood by and supported the priestly abusers and those who shuffled predator priest from parish to parish and never once demanded accountability from bishops, cardinals or the Pope. Instead, they joined the chorus blaming abuse on gays. Now the Knights may be about to reap what they deserve for their callous disregard for victims of sexual abuse.
"It broadens the whole issue of the sexual abuse crisis and frankly further damages the Catholic Church's reputation," said Chuck Zech, director of the Center for the Study of Church Management at Villanova University.
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John Doe, who lives in Kansas, said Rivera plied him with whisky, marijuana, pornography and a white pill that he said would help him relax. He said when he hesitated to give Rivera a massage, Rivera pulled out a small handgun and placed it on the ground.
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Rivera sexually abused John Doe for six years on overnight trips for local and national events of the Squires, his lawsuit alleges. The man said if he told anyone, Rivera said he would kill his family or cut off a body part and send it to his mother, according to the lawsuit. Rivera also "shared" the boy with another adult leader of the Squires in another city who sexually abused him, the lawsuit alleges.
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The man also claimed the Knights of Columbus tried to trick him last year into signing papers that would have prevented him from suing for damages over the alleged abuse.
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The the morally bankrupt leadership of the Knights stood by and supported the priestly abusers and those who shuffled predator priest from parish to parish and never once demanded accountability from bishops, cardinals or the Pope. Instead, they joined the chorus blaming abuse on gays. Now the Knights may be about to reap what they deserve for their callous disregard for victims of sexual abuse.
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