Alleged Molestation Victim Suing Local Diocese

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ A man who alleges he was molested by a priest in 1984, when he was a nine-year-old boy, is suing the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

The suit, filed Thursday in Sonoma county Superior Court, alleges the Bishop of Santa Rosa committed fraud by not revealing to the congregation that the recently arrived priest had been the target of several allegations of child sex abuse in his native Ireland.

Attorney Joe George claims in the suit that his client recently found out through media reports that the Bishop of Santa Rosa was aware of previous claims of sexual abuse by then-priest Patrick Joseph McCabe before McCabe was assigned to St. Bernard's Church in Eureka, Calif.

The diocese referred questions to their attorney, who did not immediately return calls.