Abuse suit filed against Texas diocese

The lawsuit accuses the late Father David Espitia of sexually molesting an 8-year-old boy until he was 16.

The document further describes in graphic detail multiple sexual acts on the child at various locations including on church grounds. One line says that Espitia intentionally would wear his priestly collar during the sexual assaults.

“Father Espitia engaged in this wrongful conduct while in the course and scope of his employment with the Defendant Diocese. Consequently, Defendant Diocese is liable for the wrongful conduct of Father Espitia.”

It continues saying. “Diocese and its Bishop knew or should have known of the sexual misconduct and continuing dangerous propensities of Espitia and that Espitia’s injurious sexual actions thus were clearly foreseeable.”

In a response Bishop Michael Pfeifer says quote: ” I am dismayed by the claim, that the Diocese, and I personally, are somehow responsible for some claimed sexual abuse of a minor child, by the late Fr. David Espitia.”

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