Parker Waichman LLP

Archbishop: Abuse Allegations Go Back Prior To 1987

A lawsuit claiming sexual abuse by a church The Catholic archbishop in Mobile said in a 1995 deposition for a lawsuit claiming sexual abuse by a church official that the archdiocese had received similar allegations earlier than 1987. But Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb said he probably could count on one hand the number of times he […]

Abuse Allegations

A lawsuit claiming sexual abuse by a church The Catholic archbishop in Mobile said in a 1995 deposition for a lawsuit claiming sexual abuse by a church official that the archdiocese had received similar allegations earlier than 1987.

But Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb said he probably could count on one hand the number of times he had dealt with such matters. The deposition, obtained by the Mobile Register from court records, was reported Monday.

Lipscomb has not commented publicly on how many allegations of sex abuse by church officials in the archdiocese he has received. Messages left by a Register reporter for comment on the testimony went unreturned.

In recent months, Lipscomb has dismissed two priests for allegations of sexual abuse dating as far back as the 1970s. He said he did not learn of the abuse until the late 1990s.

A third church official, a teacher at a local Catholic high school run by the diocese, has been charged with sexual abuse. Lipscomb said he dismissed the non-clerical brother in 1998.

The Register reported that Lipscomb testified in the 1995 deposition for a lawsuit alleging abuse by the late Monsignor Cordell Lang, a guidance couselor at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.

Timothy Bolden, a former student, sued Lang and the church, claiming he was molested between 1988 and 1991. A jury ruled against Bolden.

The affidavit wasn’t the first time Lipscomb had addressed the issue of abuse: In 1993, he said he wouldn’t comment on whether child molestation was an issue locally because it would risk confidentiality.

Allegations of abuse in the diocese have been aired this year

Allegations of abuse in the diocese have been aired this year after Lipscomb revealed that the Rev. J. Alexander Sherlock had admitted in 1998 to sexually abusing a boy. The former Mobile priest is under investigation.

Since then, more allegations have been made public.

Former McGill-Toolen Catholic High School teacher Nicholas Paul Bendillo, now affiliated with the New Orleans province of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, has been charged with two felony and two misdemeanor charges of sex abuse.

Bendillo was known as “Brother Vic” to those who knew him at the Mobile school, where he worked from 1959 to 1998 as a teacher and adviser.

Besides Bendillo and Sherlock, District Attorney John Tyson Jr. has said he has started criminal investigations into three other clergy members with ties to the archdiocese.

In the deposition from 1995, Lipscomb addressed the broader issues of sex abuse under questioning from Archie Lamb, a Birmingham lawyer representing Bolden.

Lamb estimated that the abuse would have started around 1987 or 1988 and he asked Lipscomb if there were complaints of sex abuse by Catholic officials before then. Lipscomb said yes and that after investigating them, he determined the allegations were valid.

When Lipscomb was asked if he had received such complaints after 1987, he said he couldn’t recall exact dates. Later, Lipscomb said he could probably count on one hand the number of times he dealt with clergy sex abuse.

Lamb asked the archbishop if he was aware of any complaints besides Bolden’s of sexual abuse of children at McGill-Toolen by church officials.

“Yes, we have from time to time had these complaints made,” Lipscomb replied. Some of those complaints had been valid, he said.

But when Lamb asked for the exact number of complaints that had been deemed legitimate, Grey Redditt, the archbishop’s lawyer, objected to the question.

Certain professionals must report allegations of child abuse to law enforcement officials, but clergy are currently not included in that group.

A bill making its way through the Legislature would change that, with some exceptions.

Need Legal Help Regarding Abuse Allegations?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

Further sex abuse resources:

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Settled my case faster than expected! I didn’t have to deal with the paper work it all! PW is fantastic!
Erik Little
7 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I would like to thank everyone at Parker waichman who worked so hard on my case especially Jerrod Ryan my wonderful attorney who was very professional knowledgeable and very patient. SINCERE THANKS GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS
Betty Pershae
a year ago
5 Star Reviews 150
My sister and I pursued a case when our mother was seriously injured in a Nursing Home. We were referred by Alison and our paralegal was Michelle Pabon. We were treated with professionalism and kindness throughout the whole process. We were extremely happy with the results for our mother's pain and suffering. Thank you to Alison, Michelle Pabon and the staff at Parker Waichman.
Carol Bifulco
5 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038