Attorneys Become Church Target
Last night, I read with great interest Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea's article on the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis published in the National Catholic Reporter. For those of you who aren't Catholic or don't follow the church that closely, the Reporter has consistently reported on the abuse crisis since 2002. It has done so with journalistic integrity and professionalism. This particular story focuses on the church's new PR campaign to direct the focus on the trial attorneys, like myself, who are trying to help abuse victims. O'Dea correctly points out that many of the victims I represent went to the church before they hired me. However, once the church spurned them, they called me. While some in the church hierarchy want to blame the lawyers, they should take to heart the words quoted at the end of the article, "Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown in prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. ... And if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well."