Youth Minister At Center Of Church Sex Scandal. Archdiocese Of Miami Sued Over Sexual Misconduct

[Ian David]

PINECREST, Fla. -- Allegations were made public Wednesday against a former youth minister at St. Louis Catholic Church accused of abusing young girls, and a lawsuit that has been filed on their behalf against the Archdiocese of Miami.

A teenage girl said Anthony B. Ricco, 19, sexually assaulted her. Jeffrey Herman, the lawyer for the 15-year-old girl, who was a member of the church youth group, said that the church received complaints, but ignored them.

The lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of Miami claiming that the Rev. James Fetscher was negligent because he was aware of the misconduct but "did nothing to protect" the 15-year-old as well as other girls who may have been abused.

"These girls never should have been abused," said Herman. "If the church had only followed their own policies and common sense, so many lives would've been spared the trauma they suffer now."

An archdiocese spokeswoman strongly denied the accusations and said the complaints were not about abuse by Ricco, but about church policies that were not being followed – specifically dating within the group.

Pinecrest police investigated the allegations. In December, Ricco pleaded no contest to nine counts of lewd and lascivious battery and he was sentenced to two years of house arrest and 10 years of probation, Local 10 reported.



More:
http://www.local10.com/news/11196717/detail.html

[malaise]

1. Outside of abusing youngsters

is there anything else going on in these churches?

[Ian David]

2. They've spent all their money on sexual abuse and gay-bashing. n/t