Memories ‘too painful to relive': Man sues Pittsburgh diocese, others over alleged sexual assaults Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Saint Bernard School are among the defendants Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

HANDS OF A TEACHER AND NOT A PRIEST, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET JUSTICE. A LAWSUIT WAS FILED THURSDAY AGAINST THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH AND ST. BERNARD SCHOOL IN MT. LEBENON, DETAILS THE ALLEGED SEX ABUSE OF A SIXTH GRADE STUDENT. THE VICTIM, WHO IS AN ADULT NOW, CLAIMS A TEACHER ASSAULTED HIM AT LEAST 5 TIMES WHILE TUTORING HIM IN MATH. BUT BECAUSE THE ALLEGED ABUSE DIDN’T INVOLVE A PRIEST, THE VICTIM ISN’T ELIGABLE FOR THE COMPENSATION FUND THROUGH THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH. >> THE PROGRAM ITSELF ALLOWS VICTIMS TO GO INTO A PRIVATE SETTING TO TRY AND RESOLVE THESE CLAIMS ONLY IF THEY WERE ABUSED BY A PRIEST. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, OUR CLIENT WAS ABUSED WHILE STUDENT IN ELEMTARY SCHOOL AND BECAUSE HE WAS ABUSED BY A TEACHER THE PROGRAM DOES NOT APPLY. AND CANDIDLY THAT’S FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG. >> PEIRCE WANTS THE DIOCESE TO INCLUDE ALL VICTIMS, NOT JUST THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS IN THE PROGRAM SO THEY CAN MOVE ON WITH THIER LIVES FASTER. >> YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE , ALLEGATIONS IN THIS LAWSUIT -- YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THE ALLEGATIONS IN THIS LAWSUIT ARE HORRIFIC IN NATURE BECAUSE A LAWSUIT HAS TO BE FILED IN ORDER TO PURSUE A CLAIM OR ANY REMEDY THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE TO BE MADE PUBLIC AND MY CLEINT IS -- MY CLIENT IS RELIVING EVENTS IN THE PUBLIC EYE. IF THE DIOCESE CHOOSES NOT TO COVER HIS CLIENT, PIERCE SAYS THEY WILL SEEK DAMAGES FOR MEDICAL BILLS INCURRED WHEN HE SUFFERED POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND DRUG ADDICTIONS BROUGHT ON FROM THE ABUSE. PEIRCE SAYS THEY’RE STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE. >> IF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS CAN GO IN PRIVATE SETTNG TO RESOLVE, THEN WHY CAN’T ALL VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE DO THE SAME? >> I SPOKE WITH THE DIOCESE THIS AFTERNOON AT THAT POINT THEY HAD

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice