Vatican Crimes:Crookston Diocese settles with fugitive priest's sex abuse victim
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Joseph Jeyapaul might never face trial for what he did to Megan Peterson, but the Crookston Diocese has made its own choice not to fight the case.
Yesterday, Peterson's attorney Jeff Anderson announced a "groundbreaking" settlement of $750,000, with the Diocese paying out large amount for Jeyapaul's long-ago sin.
Along with the sum of money, the Diocese has agreed to post Jeyapaul's picture and information about the case on its website. It has also promised to reach out to and work with other potential victims of Jeyapaul's.
In his press conference, with a visibly upset Peterson by his side, Anderson said the lawsuit and settlement were about more than what Jeyapaul did to Peterson.
"We are here today because we are scared -- we are very scared," Anderson said. "We are scared because we know that Joseph Jeyapaul, a priest from India, raped Megan as a child. We know he did it to others, and we also know that he was allowed to flee to India. And we also know that Joseph Jeyapaul, the priest offender, has been and was in ministry -- and still is, as far as we know."
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