Ryan O’Connor, the lead plaintiff in the case, said they want accountability from the Catholic dioceses and its senior leaders. Their case is not about money.
O’ Connor said, “Their words now are like the words were 20 years ago — empty. No more. They need to be held accountable. They need to be brought into the open.”
“These men are master liars and manipulators. They are predators. They lied to our parents. They manipulated our parents. They got into our lives. They are doing the same thing. It is the same playbook,” he added.
O’Connor claimed that a priest in the Johnstown area abused him when he was 9 or 10. He is now 46 years old with two children studying at a Catholic school.
Furthermore, he said, “This is not about money. It has never been about money for me. It’s about transparency and it’s about truth. That’s all we want.”
Declaratory and injunctive relief sought by plaintiffs
O’Connor and his fellow plaintiffs are seeking a court order to compel the defendants to:
- Meet their “Mandatory Reporting Obligations” on both historical and going-forward basis, and provide sufficient evidence to the Court that they have and will do so;
- Make a complete disclosure of all records and information in their possession, custody or control during the time period from September 17, 1948 to the present pertaining to alleged sexual abuse of any minors;
- Provide notice approved by the Court to Pennsylvanians of their right and opportunity to provide additional information as victims or witnesses relating to alleged sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, as such notice and reporting with further assist in abating Defendants’ public nuisance, with such notice paid for by Defendants;
- Declare that the acts that have formed the basis of the continuing public nuisance actually occurred and are unlawful; and
- Be accountable for their actions and take responsibility by publicly acknowledging the alleged wrongdoings filed in the suit
