The Los Angeles Times reports today that the Diocese of Orange is facing a contempt motion for failing to produce a witness in a sex abuse case. The witness, Msgr. John Urell, the pastor of St. Norbert’s Church in Orange and Bishop Tod Brown’s representative in dealing with and investigating abusing Priests in the Diocese, originally appeared for his deposition last July, but it was halted before it could be completed after Urell had an emotional breakdown during questioning. Urell was being deposed by John Manly of the Newport Beach law firm of Manly, McGuire and Stewart, who represents victims in sex abuse cases. The defendant, former Mater Dei Basketball Coach Jeff Andrade, has already admitted he had sex with the victim.
Urell is already under a contempt order that requires him to complete his deposition. The contempt motion stems from a decision by the Diocese last month to send Urell to a treatment facility in Canada known as the "Southdown Institute" that specializes in treating Priests for a variety of mental and emotional disorders. The decision to send Urell to Canada has had the effect of thwarting and delaying the completion of his deposition, and Urell has apparently told a judge he thinks he might "never" complete the deposition, according to the Times report. The lawsuit makes no claims that Urell himself has been an abuser, and Urell has reportedly a very good reputation in the Diocese. However, Urell does have an obligation to complete his deposition and answer questions truthfully, just like anyone else. One would hope Urell could get better, and at the same time pull himself together in the interests of justice, and for the benefit of his Church and its members, to complete the process.
September 24th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Jim:
Msgr. Urell could be in a treatment center next door to Manly’s house, and he couldn’t complete the deposition — not until his doctor says he is able to do so. It doesn’t matter that Southdown is in Canada, because a deposition can be taken there, as well, when Msgr. Urell is able to complete it.
But this is beside the point. Msgr. Urell is peripheral to Manly’s case. He didn’t deal with the Andrade case. But Msgr. Urell’s very valuable to Manly’s efforts to keep this story going in the media and ratchet up the pressure on the Diocese to settle before trial.