Suit against Catholic Diocese of Pueblo permitted
June 15, 2009
Pueblo, Colorado: United States District Judge for Pueblo, Victor Reyes, ruled that a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo can go forward. The ruling denies the church's claim that the lawsuit was filed too long after the alleged misconduct.
The allegations concern sexual conduct by former Catholic priest Andrew Burke with a 10-year-old altar boy at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Pueblo in the early 1970s. Burke committed suicide in 2005, just as the allegations were about to be made public. Burke left the priesthood in 1973, citing "psychosexual behavior disorder" in his letter to the Vatican.
In a statement, attorney Adam Horowitz, said: "This is an important ruling for all victims of sexual abuse in Colorado. Victims who were sexually abused many years ago can still pursue their claims to hold all of those who hurt them accountable."[1]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Colorado • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Colorado
State courts:
Colorado Supreme Court • Colorado Court of Appeals • Colorado District Courts • Colorado County Courts • Denver Probate Court • Denver Juvenile Court • Colorado Municipal Courts • Colorado Water Courts
State resources:
Courts in Colorado • Colorado judicial elections • Judicial selection in Colorado
