Three More Suits

David O'Reilly's by-line returns to the pages of today's Philadelphia Inquirer -- the irrepressable Jay Abramowicz (who would move mountains to get the statute of limitations thrown out in Pennsylvania) tries and tries again:

Three men who say they were sexually assaulted decades ago by a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia filed lawsuits yesterday against the archdiocese, alleging its leaders concealed his crimes from authorities and parishes, allowing him to abuse other children.

Their attorney, Jay Abramowitch of Berks County, said there is such strong evidence of a cover-up in alleged incidents involving the former Rev. James J. Brzyski that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court might set aside the statute of limitations that typically bars such suits.

In briefs filed with Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, Abramowitch cited remarks by the Rev. James Gigliotti, a Franciscan priest who once served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Gigliotti, who now serves in Texas, told The Inquirer last month that in the early 1980s he warned an archdiocesan official that Brzyski appeared to be abusing altar boys in his parish. He said the official told him: "Keep your mouth shut."

"This comes from the highest authority," Gigliotti said an assistant chancellor told him.

Highest authority = John Krol, at the time.

Ten men have publicly alleged that Brzyski, now 54, sexually assaulted them as children - allegations that, if true, would make him one of the worst sex offenders who served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. He is one of more than 50 priests named in a forthcoming grand jury report on sex abuse within the archdiocese.

The archdiocese did not a return a call yesterday seeking comment.

Sorry to start everyone's morning with this.... Just wait.

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