By Vicki Yamasaki
No Media Outlet has published in its entirety this full press release from an independent journalist (which was reviewed for accuracy by Einterz & Einterz, legal counsel for Father James DeOreo) so CUP is including it below.
We wish to thank Complicit Clergy for broadcasting nationally CUP’s newsletter on Saturday regarding the recently filed civil lawsuits and call to action by the laity. Click here for that coverage.
What follows is the full press release from an independent journalist picked up by multiple media outlets locally and nationally:
Fr. James DeOreo, a priest in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, on Friday filed suit in Boone County against the Diocese and Fr. Theodore Dudzinski, Vicar General of the Diocese, seeking $10 million in damages. The 18-page filing lays out claims of defamation of character and fraud stemming from the Diocese’s public announcement of DeOreo’s suspension for “inappropriate conduct with a minor” and implications of sexual abuse on March 13, 2022. According to the lawsuit, that announcement occurred after Dudzinski and Bishop Timothy Doherty knew there was no evidence to support any claim of misconduct.
“It is unfortunate that this litigation against the Diocese and Fr. Dudzinski is necessary,” said Michael Einterz, DeOreo’s lawyer. “Fr. DeOreo offered the Diocese an opportunity to work to restore his reputation while still retaining the option to pursue legal action if such steps were not forthcoming. The Diocese rejected that offer, which left Fr. DeOreo with no choice but to use the courts to restore his good name and reputation.”
Dudzinski and Doherty publicly announced DeOreo’s suspension at masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Carmel, Ind. The announcement referenced allegations of “inappropriate conduct with a minor,” that were reported to Indiana Child Protective Services (CPS) and called on “anyone aware of possible misconduct involving Fr. DeOreo to come forward.”
The lawsuit states that the Diocese knew when it made the announcement that its internal investigation had produced no evidence of misconduct. Further, it was aware that CPS had closed the case and the Zionsville police department had decided not to investigate due to a lack of evidence.
The family that brought the allegations of misconduct, identified in the current litigation against the Diocese as “Complainer,” agreed to pay DeOreo an undisclosed amount in an out-of-court settlement in a defamation lawsuit brought against them in Boone County last year.
According to the most recent court filing, the family from St. Alphonsus parish first notified Doherty’s office in January 2021 that DeOreo had abused their son by encouraging him to fast, leading him to suffer from an eating disorder. Fasting is a common spiritual exercise in Catholic tradition. When the complaint was filed, Doherty suspended DeOreo pending an internal investigation. An independent investigator concluded in February 2021 that DeOreo had not caused the eating disorder and no abuse had occurred. The matter was considered closed in May 2021 and DeOreo’s suspension ended.
The Diocese informed the family “on multiple occasions” that DeOreo had not committed abuse and neither he nor the Diocese were responsible for the young man’s eating disorder. Despite finding no evidence of misconduct, the Diocese agreed to pay for psychotherapy to help the young man cope with mental health issues and his eating disorder.
The filing states that “as a consequence of paying for the Complainer’s psychotherapy, Dudzinski claimed a right, ostensibly on behalf of the Diocese, to sit in on Complainer’s therapy sessions between February and September 2021.” The filing goes on to state that while sitting in on those sessions Dudzinski informed the young man and his therapist that he would be willing to reopen the investigation or initiate a new investigation if the allegations were of a sexual nature.
The lawsuit goes on to state that Dudzinski worked during the therapy sessions to create the false impression that DeOreo would be punished for allegations of sexual abuse, regardless of the veracity of those allegations, stating he “preyed upon Complainer’s desire for vengeance and blame for his eating disorder.”
In a letter to the Diocese dated October 8, 2021, the young man issued additional allegations, accusing DeOreo of abusing him by “sexual harassment and grooming.” He specifically noted, “I would like to be clear from the start, at no point was there any physical contact.” By Indiana statute, no form of sexual abuse can occur absent physical contact. At the same time, the family engaged a lawyer to assist them in demanding compensation from the Diocese.
The written accusation of sexual abuse triggered an internal investigation and the report to Indiana Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Zionsville Police Department.
Child Protective Services closed the case without investigating after determining that the accuser was not a minor at the time the alleged incidents occurred. The Zionsville police did not investigate due to a lack of evidence. The internal investigation conducted by the Diocesan Review Board also concluded there was no misconduct.
The lawsuit states that Dudzinski not only hid his involvement in the young man’s therapy sessions, but also worked to hide or destroy the findings of the Review Board and “acted to intentionally create the false impression in Diocesan leadership…” that the new allegations from October 8, 2021 were “credible, actionable, or otherwise harmful to the Diocese.”
The lawsuit states that on November 19, 2021, the Diocese “contrary to the findings of its own Review Board and internal protocols,” issued a Decree and suspended DeOreo from public ministry with youth or with any parishioner of St. Alphonsus.
Despite the Diocese gathering no new information regarding the allegations being brought, in March Doherty suspended DeOreo from all public exercise of sacred orders, evicted him from the rectory at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and prohibited him from residing within Howard, Boone, or Hamilton counties, and prohibited him from wearing clerical garb.
Bishop Doherty testified that the March suspension was a “perceived violation of the November decree.” According to the court document, Dudzinski created that false perception by suggesting “Complainer would subject the Diocese to additional legal scrutiny or liability as a result of DeOreo’s actions.” As a result, the Diocese published public statements that “all intimated that either criminal charges had been filed or that an independent investigation had substantially established culpability, when the Diocese knew neither of these to be true or even likely.”
Even following the family’s settlement in the defamation suit brought by DeOreo, the Diocese has continued to uphold his suspension.
The case, filed in Boone County, seeks compensation for reputational damage of at least $10 million caused by the “false, published March statement” implying the Diocese believed allegations of sexual abuse and that DeOreo was suspended for physical contact and misconduct with a minor. The case seeks further damages from Dudzinski, citing criminal statute I.C. 35-34-5-4 and the Crime Victims Relief Act, I.C. 34-24-3-1, which include three times the damages suffered by DeOreo, the costs of his action, and his reasonable attorney’s fees.
Contact:
Mike Einterz
mike@einterzlaw.com
317/337-2021
News Coverage:
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/indiana-priest-sues-diocese-for-defamation
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
Contact Bishop Timothy L. Doherty immediately to advocate for the swift reinstatement of Father DeOreo. Father DeOreo has been unjustly suspended from priestly ministry for two years and it is imperative that we express our unwavering support for his prompt return. Contact Bishop Doherty via mail at:
CALL: 1-800-942-2397 to urgently ask for Fr. DeOreo’s reinstatement
EMAIL: Email Bishop Doherty at bishop@dol-in.org
(see template email ready below for you to send)
WRITE: Send a letter (using this example) to Bishop Doherty, Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana P.O. Box 260 Lafayette, IN 47902-0260