02:54 PM PST on Monday, November 29, 2004

Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. - Sex abuse victims who have sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane have a message for leaders of the Archdiocese of Seattle: You are also to blame for the depredations of former priest Patrick O'Donnell.

In leaflets distributed in Seattle and Spokane over the weekend, abuse victims said publicity surrounding the Spokane Diocese's plan to file for bankruptcy next month should not blind people to the actions of Seattle church leaders.

The Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests said the Seattle Archdiocese allowed O'Donnell, subject of many of the lawsuits, to continue to minister there after he was transferred from Spokane because of abuse complaints.

"They have denied any responsibility for Patrick O'Donnell despite having assigned him to pastoral responsibilities at St. Paul Parish in Seattle during the time he was being treated for pedophilia," the leaflet from SNAP said.

Some victims have sued the Seattle Archiodecese over O'Donnell's actions there, the leaflet said. The church also helped O'Donnell get a doctorate in psychology, SNAP said.

Greg Magnoni, a spokesman for the Seattle Archdiocese, said Monday the pamphlets were counterproductive.

"I think that bishops have worked very hard to be in dialogue with all victims," Magnoni said. "That dialogue is going to result in the changes within the church that they (victims) seek." Three victims have named the Archdiocese of Seattle as a defendant in lawsuits against O'Donnell.

The leaflet urged parishioners in Seattle and Spokane to contact church leaders to urge them "to resolve this issue in a healing, just, and truthful manner." Bishops have deceived parishioners for decades, and used threats including excommunication to silence victims and their advocates, the leaflets said.

Numerous bishops are now using threats of bankruptcy to try and force victims to accept unjust settlements, the leaflet said. The Spokane Diocese plans to file for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 6.

"Please bear in mind that we were Catholic children from Catholic families who were raped and sexually assaulted by trusted priests," the leaflet said.

"If we had kept silent most of our perpetrators would still be in ministry today," it said. "More children would have been abused." Leaflets were distributed Sunday outside St. James Cathedral in Seattle and Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane.

O'Donnell, 62, served as a priest in Spokane and Seattle until he was removed from ministry in 1986. He has acknowledged he sexually abused boys from the time he was in seminary.

Bankruptcy filing would place on hold 19 lawsuits involving 58 plaintiffs that have been filed accusing nine diocesan priests and two Jesuits. Of those, five lawsuits and 28 sexual abuse claims involve O'Donnell.

A bankruptcy court judge will determine which assets -- property, parishes, schools or insurance policies -- may be used to cover victims' claims.