As parishioners’ calls continue for the resignation of Cardinal Law, because of a massive pedophilia scandal in the Massachusetts archdiocese, a diocese in Tucson, AZ has quietly settled a civil lawsuit in which several families claim the Tucson diocese tried to cover up allegations of sexual abuse by Msgr. Robert Trupia and 3 other priests in the 1970’s.
The 10 plaintiffs argue that that despite written statements from multiple boys alleging sexual abuse at the hands of Trupia, Catholic officials simply transferred him to another parish where he was in charge of sex education programs and a program called “Come and See,” which introduced boys to the life of Catholic priests, allowing him to victimize scores of children. This same pattern of transferring a priest to a youth program after allegations of pedophilia is alleged in the Boston scandal.
While the amount of the Tucson settlement has not been disclosed, sources close to the case say the amount is in the millions of dollars. In Boston, the settlement has already topped $10 million and many other cases are pending. Over the weekend of January 26-27, ABC News showed parishioners pickering Cardinal Law and calling for his resignation.