LOUISVILLE (KY)
The Courier-Journal
Complaint accuses church officials of covering up matter
By GREGORY A. HALL
ghall@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
A 32-year-old Florida man filed suit yesterday against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville, alleging that the Rev. Joseph Herp abused him between 1980 and 1986, when the man was a child.
Andre Azerot of Fort Lauderdale claims the alleged abuse occurred when he was a parishioner or student at St. Ann Church, where Herp was assigned.
The complaint alleges that archdiocesan officials knew of sexual abuse by Herp and covered it up. Archdiocesan spokeswoman Cecelia Price declined to comment on the accusations, citing archdiocese policy.
Azerot’s attorney, John Cox, said the abuse was reported to church officials at the time, but he was unaware who it was reported to.
Brian Reynolds, the archdiocese’s chancellor and chief administrative officer, said that based on a review of records yesterday, “no one named Andre Azerot has ever contacted the archdiocese” complaining of abuse.
