(Ozaukee News) CEDARBURG – A Cedarburg man who is suing the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay for covering up an abusive priest’s past misdeeds said he isn’t challenging the church, but rather those in charge of it.
“The church is the people. It’s the leadership we’re challenging,” said Todd Merryfield, who is suing the diocese with his brother, Troy, after they were abused as children by one of its priests.
“They could have stopped this at any point and none of us would be going through this.”
The Merryfields’ suit claims the diocese is guilty of fraud and negligence for transferring Father John Patrick Feeney to St. Nicholas Church in Freedom in 1976 despite “widespread accusations, allegations and rumors regarding sexual improprieties.
Lisa Curtis