Seattle Archdiocese faces new sex abuse lawsuits naming known offenders

The Archdiocese of Seattle faces two new lawsuits for alleged child sexual abuse that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, adding to a growing list of ongoing cases against the institution.

The plaintiffs say they were sexually assaulted as children by a local Catholic school coach as administrators and staff looked the other way. The men named in the lawsuit as perpetrators have died since the alleged abuse occurred.

Attorneys representing the victims, who are only identified in the lawsuits as “John Doe,” say there are likely more lawsuits to come.

The new claims follow a failed effort by the state to subpoena the Seattle Archdiocese for documents related to sexual abuse allegations. Dozens of child sex abuse cases have been brought against the Archdiocese over the years.

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The two new lawsuits say the alleged abuse occurred in the basketball programs of Holy Family and St. John Catholic schools. Plaintiffs say the Archdiocese did nothing to address reports of sexual abuse after they hired Terry McGrath, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting a child in California in 1963, to coach kids.

McGrath is also named in three other lawsuits against the Seattle Archdiocese, two of which were filed last year, for alleged sexual abuse at Holy Family, St. John, and O’Dea High School.

McGrath and two other men named in the lawsuits — priests Edward Boyle and Edward Courtney — were at the center of other cases settled by the Seattle Archdiocese between 2009 and 2019. Those settlements amounted to over $3 million combined.

While the Seattle Archdiocese has published a list of known abusers, including Boyle and Courtney, McGrath isn’t on that list.

A fourth man identified in the lawsuits, John Schade, described as a coach, volunteer, and employee of the Archdiocese in court documents, was convicted of felony indecent liberties in connection with a child sex abuse case in the 1980s. His name is also absent from the Archdiocese’s list.

Michael Pfau is one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the new lawsuits. They’re seeking monetary damages, but say they want the court to help determine the amount.

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Many of the survivors are now adult men over the age of 50. Pfau, who’s represented clergy abuse survivors for more than 20 years, said that statistically, men who have survived sexual abuse don’t come forward until they’re older — partly because of shame and stigma.

“If a child, adolescent, or teenager is abused, really, the last thing they want to do is dwell on it,” he said. “Most survivors end up engaging in some sort of defense mechanism that involves burying the memories, burying the pain, and trying to move on with their life.”

Oftentimes, survivors feel empowered to come forward when they see others speaking out, Pfau added.

“These are among the worst crimes in our civil system, [and] among the worst sins in our moral belief system,” Pfau said. “So the Catholic Church should do everything in its ability to be accountable and to be transparent. Only then can the church move on.”

Pfau’s statements echo calls made by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and advocates for the Seattle Archdiocese and Catholic Churches in the state to be more accountable.

Ferguson’s office recently sought to compel the Seattle Archdiocese to turn over records related to sex abuse allegations, as part of an investigation into whether the institution had used charitable funds to cover up abuse. But a King County Superior Court judge ruled that the state did not have the jurisdiction to subpoena those documents. Judge Michael Scott cited the institution’s religious exemption from state charitable trust laws — the core argument made by Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne and Archdiocese attorneys.

Seattle area child abuse survivors and their advocates sent a letter to the Vatican earlier last month, calling for an investigation of Seattle Archdiocese leaders for withholding those documents.

Helen McClenahan, a spokesperson for the Seattle Archdiocese, said in an email that “the Archdiocese continues to invite victims to come forward for healing.”

“For some, that is being heard. For some, that is experiencing a deep apology. For some, it is regaining trust in the Church. For some, it is seeking a resolution in the courts,” McClenahan wrote.

Archbishop Paul Etienne said in an announcement last month that Archdiocese officials have apologized and launched programs to support victims, including a new “healing ministry.”

“The ministry will … provide education and training on recognizing the signs of abuse, abuse prevention, and trauma sensitive pastoral competencies,” the announcement reads.

According to the Archdiocese, the ministry will look for solutions suggested by survivors and provide pastoral care — a system of support that typically includes confessions and reconciliations.