Monday, August 08, 2011

Alleged molestation victims sue Monterey diocese

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey is facing two lawsuits from men who say negligence by church officials allowed them to be molested by priests.

The first suit alleges abuse by Father William Allison, a member of the Monterey diocese, over an 18-month period starting in 1966, when the alleged victim was 9 years old.

According to the suit, diocese officials had reason to suspect that Allison, who is now dead, was abusing the boy, but did not inform his family.

In the second suit, another man says he was molested by Rev. Antonio Cortes when he was 16.

Cortes pleaded no contest in March to sexually abusing the teen while working at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Salinas.

Both suits were filed last month.