Couple Sues Louisville Archdiocese Over Firing

A Louisville couple have sued the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, contending she was fired for complaining about a priest who was removed from ministry.

The Courier-Journal reported that the lawsuit filed by Gary and Margie Weiter of Louisville alleges that the archdiocese violated its own policies on responding to sexual abuse. She contends a priest who had allegedly been sexually abusive was living at the parish and circulating among children without supervision and that she was fired when she complained.

Gary Weiter was among 243 people who settled with the archdiocese in 2003 for $25.7 million over claims of past sexual abuse. He contends in the lawsuit that the trauma he suffered years earlier was revived by the church’s handling of the later situation.

The archdiocese released a statement saying Margie Weiter lost her job when three parish offices merged and there was a staff reduction based on seniority. The statement said the archdiocese helped her find a job at another parish, where it said she is still working, and that it would investigate the personnel issue. The statement also said the archdiocese would offer pastoral assistance and counseling to Gary Weiter.