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US Catholic Clergy Withdraws $1 Million Settlement With Sexual Abuse Victim | New Orleans

american roman catholic A clergyman who confessed to child sexual abuse in criminal court before ordination backed out of seven-figure settlement agreement with victim after learning he had to register as a sex offender, The Guardian admits. rice field.

Butler in question – Lawyer Virgil Maxey “VM” Wheeler III – He died earlier this year after writing a will stating his will to donate much of his funds to prominent institutions, primarily in the Louisiana community where he worked. His victims are now calling on beneficiaries to refuse gifts from their abusers.

“For each of these donations, each agency is required to attribute the name of the deceased pedophile to these funds,” the victim and her attorney Richard Trahant said in a statement this week. “None of these agencies should have received this money, they should have sent it instead,” the victim said, highlighting how final the cancellation of the settlement agreement stemming from the sexual abuse that Wheeler admitted. I explained that it was an act of abuse.

When asked by the Guardian whether they would accept donations that would require Wheeler’s name to be identified, the two institutions said they would not accept any donations. Another said he was not aware and one did not immediately comment.

The controversy outlines the latest in a clerical sex abuse scandal that has engulfed the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, America’s oldest, to declare bankruptcy in the face of mounting abuse lawsuits for decades.

Wheeler, 64, admitted in December that he had sexually abused a victim, a child of a family friend, between 2000 and 2002 when the victim was between the ages of 10 and 12. Wheeler also pleaded guilty to four counts of molestation of a boy. in the State Court of Jefferson Parish, adjacent to New Orleans.

In exchange for not going to trial, Wheeler agreed to five years of probation, avoid contact with victims, and register as a sex offender for 15 years.

However, the guilty plea did not resolve another civil lawsuit seeking damages against an admitted victim. The civil lawsuit has been controversial, with prominent Catholics in the New Orleans area pressuring the victim (who came from a locally well-known family but whose name has not been released) to drop the charges against Wheeler. There is a suspicion that he tried but failed. .

Prior to pleading guilty, Wheeler had verbally agreed to pay the victim a settlement of more than $1 million to settle the case, according to statements from Trahant and the victim. But when he learned he had to register as a sex offender, Mr. Wheeler broke the pact and “turned him into a repeat victim.”

Wheeler died in early April of pancreatic cancer. Later that month, a lawyer representing his estate filed a will securing $100,000 in scholarships to Southern Methodist University Business School in Texas, according to civil court records.

In the will, an additional $600,000 was allocated to a trust set up to benefit his dog and a set of siblings. He then specified how he would like the remaining 40% of his unspecified fortune to be spent on scholarships in his name to help students. Louisiana Those entering Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.

The will stated that the remaining 25% and 10% of the estate should be donated to the Jefferson Diocese-based Oxner Hospital Network and the New Orleans Archdiocese’s Charitable Fundraising Department, respectively.

Spokespeople for Tulane and Oxner said neither intended to accept the donation from Wheeler after being informed of the gift by The Guardian and asked about it. SMU said it did not know about the will.

The Catholic Community Foundation did not immediately comment.

Trahant and his client said in a statement that former Catholic priest Andrew Taormina and former owner of the church Wheeler served as deacon Ray Mussett will serve as executors and custodians, respectively. Emphasize what is given. Trustee of one of the trust funds listed in the will.

In the victim’s lawsuit, Wheeler’s mother, who knew Wheeler dreamed of becoming a butler, tried to lure the victim and his brother to bed on a ski trip years ago. and reported to Taormina and other local church officials. The victim was 12 years old.

Church officials say the victim didn’t reveal the full details of Wheeler’s abuse until 2020, two years after he was ordained a deacon.

Following the victim’s report against Wheeler, the Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory Amond, ordered Wheeler to suspend the deacon. Prosecutors later indicted Mr. Wheeler.

A statement by Mr. Trahant and his client said that the selection of Mr. Taormina and Mr. Musset to decision-making roles related to Mr. Wheeler’s estate “represented how thoroughly the hierarchy of the Archdiocese of New Orleans was concerned with child sexual abuse.” It shows that they are not bothered,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Aymond said she would not comment on the role given to Taormina in Wheeler’s will. The spokesperson also said Musset no longer holds any official office at the church.

Neither Mr. Musset nor the lawyer who represented Mr. Wheeler when he pleaded guilty in criminal court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans is so far on a list of more than 80 priests and deacons who work locally or are ordained and who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors and vulnerable adults. Refused to add Mr. Wheeler.

Aymond’s initial publication of the list in 2018, in what he described as an act of transparency and repentance, sparked a series of abuse lawsuits against the archdiocese, which later filed for bankruptcy protection while remaining unresolved.

a judge who hears appeals in bankruptcy cases Rejected The Guardian and the Associated Press questioned him about his close political ties with lawyers who represent archdiocese-affiliated entities, particularly in insurance disputes, and he himself withheld his involvement on the matter.

According to court records, the attorney is part of the legal team representing Wheeler’s legacy.

  • In the US, call or text the Childhelp Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453. In the UK, the NSPCC provides support for children on 0800 1111 and adults concerned about children on 0808 800 5000. The National Association of Child Abusers (Napac) provides support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, adolescents, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 and adult survivors can contact the Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. increase. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International.

Summarize this content to 100 words american roman catholic A clergyman who confessed to child sexual abuse in criminal court before ordination backed out of seven-figure settlement agreement with victim after learning he had to register as a sex offender, The Guardian admits. rice field.Butler in question – Lawyer Virgil Maxey “VM” Wheeler III – He died earlier this year after writing a will stating his will to donate much of his funds to prominent institutions, primarily in the Louisiana community where he worked. His victims are now calling on beneficiaries to refuse gifts from their abusers.”For each of these donations, each agency is required to attribute the name of the deceased pedophile to these funds,” the victim and her attorney Richard Trahant said in a statement this week. “None of these agencies should have received this money, they should have sent it instead,” the victim said, highlighting how final the cancellation of the settlement agreement stemming from the sexual abuse that Wheeler admitted. I explained that it was an act of abuse.When asked by the Guardian whether they would accept donations that would require Wheeler’s name to be identified, the two institutions said they would not accept any donations. Another said he was not aware and one did not immediately comment.The controversy outlines the latest in a clerical sex abuse scandal that has engulfed the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, America’s oldest, to declare bankruptcy in the face of mounting abuse lawsuits for decades.Wheeler, 64, admitted in December that he had sexually abused a victim, a child of a family friend, between 2000 and 2002 when the victim was between the ages of 10 and 12. Wheeler also pleaded guilty to four counts of molestation of a boy. in the State Court of Jefferson Parish, adjacent to New Orleans.In exchange for not going to trial, Wheeler agreed to five years of probation, avoid contact with victims, and register as a sex offender for 15 years.However, the guilty plea did not resolve another civil lawsuit seeking damages against an admitted victim. The civil lawsuit has been controversial, with prominent Catholics in the New Orleans area pressuring the victim (who came from a locally well-known family but whose name has not been released) to drop the charges against Wheeler. There is a suspicion that he tried but failed. .Prior to pleading guilty, Wheeler had verbally agreed to pay the victim a settlement of more than $1 million to settle the case, according to statements from Trahant and the victim. But when he learned he had to register as a sex offender, Mr. Wheeler broke the pact and “turned him into a repeat victim.”Wheeler died in early April of pancreatic cancer. Later that month, a lawyer representing his estate filed a will securing $100,000 in scholarships to Southern Methodist University Business School in Texas, according to civil court records.In the will, an additional $600,000 was allocated to a trust set up to benefit his dog and a set of siblings. He then specified how he would like the remaining 40% of his unspecified fortune to be spent on scholarships in his name to help students. Louisiana Those entering Tulane University Law School in New Orleans.The will stated that the remaining 25% and 10% of the estate should be donated to the Jefferson Diocese-based Oxner Hospital Network and the New Orleans Archdiocese’s Charitable Fundraising Department, respectively.Spokespeople for Tulane and Oxner said neither intended to accept the donation from Wheeler after being informed of the gift by The Guardian and asked about it. SMU said it did not know about the will.The Catholic Community Foundation did not immediately comment.Trahant and his client said in a statement that former Catholic priest Andrew Taormina and former owner of the church Wheeler served as deacon Ray Mussett will serve as executors and custodians, respectively. Emphasize what is given. Trustee of one of the trust funds listed in the will.In the victim’s lawsuit, Wheeler’s mother, who knew Wheeler dreamed of becoming a butler, tried to lure the victim and his brother to bed on a ski trip years ago. and reported to Taormina and other local church officials. The victim was 12 years old.Church officials say the victim didn’t reveal the full details of Wheeler’s abuse until 2020, two years after he was ordained a deacon.Following the victim’s report against Wheeler, the Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory Amond, ordered Wheeler to suspend the deacon. Prosecutors later indicted Mr. Wheeler.A statement by Mr. Trahant and his client said that the selection of Mr. Taormina and Mr. Musset to decision-making roles related to Mr. Wheeler’s estate “represented how thoroughly the hierarchy of the Archdiocese of New Orleans was concerned with child sexual abuse.” It shows that they are not bothered,” he said.A spokeswoman for Aymond said she would not comment on the role given to Taormina in Wheeler’s will. The spokesperson also said Musset no longer holds any official office at the church.Neither Mr. Musset nor the lawyer who represented Mr. Wheeler when he pleaded guilty in criminal court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Archdiocese of New Orleans is so far on a list of more than 80 priests and deacons who work locally or are ordained and who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors and vulnerable adults. Refused to add Mr. Wheeler.Aymond’s initial publication of the list in 2018, in what he described as an act of transparency and repentance, sparked a series of abuse lawsuits against the archdiocese, which later filed for bankruptcy protection while remaining unresolved.a judge who hears appeals in bankruptcy cases Rejected The Guardian and the Associated Press questioned him about his close political ties with lawyers who represent archdiocese-affiliated entities, particularly in insurance disputes, and he himself withheld his involvement on the matter.According to court records, the attorney is part of the legal team representing Wheeler’s legacy.
In the US, call or text the Childhelp Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453. In the UK, the NSPCC provides support for children on 0800 1111 and adults concerned about children on 0808 800 5000. The National Association of Child Abusers (Napac) provides support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, adolescents, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 and adult survivors can contact the Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. increase. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/11/us-catholic-cleric-deacon-virgil-wheeler-sexual-abuse US Catholic Clergy Withdraws $1 Million Settlement With Sexual Abuse Victim | New Orleans

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