Man named in grand jury report files suit against archdiocese
“Billy Doe” was 10 years old in 1999 when priests and a teacher from St. Jerome’s parish in the Northeast allegedly sexually abused him. Now at 23, he’s filed a suit against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, naming former Cardinal Anthony Bevilaqua, Father Edward Avery, Father Charles Engelhardt, William Lynn and Bernard Shero.
Doe is one of the alleged abuse victims identified in a grand jury report released earlier this year, detailing reported incidents of sexual abuse and cover-ups by Avery, Englehardt, Shero, Lynn and an another priest, Father James Brennan.
According a report by the Inquirer, the suit says the archdiocese knowingly exposed Doe and other children to the abuse when Avery was assigned to the parish after a report of abuse was filed against him.
Lynn and four others are due in court later this week for a pretrial hearing stemming from charges filed in relation to the grand jury report.
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