New information about a pedophile priest as documents released detail how Father Lawrence Murphy sexually abused as many as 200 deaf children.
Peter Isely is the Midwest Director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and says, "I can tell you that according to this file this is probably one of the worst pedophile priest cases in the United States."
Most of the cases occurred at a school for the deaf in Saint Francis throughout the 1970's. In Archdiocese of Milwaukee reports, a psychotherapist tells of how Father Murphy said "It was sex education for them [the children]. They were confused about sex."
Father Murphy also said he believed his victims consented, also telling the psychotherapist, "I could tell if they like it because they didn't push me away. So I knew they liked it."
Arthur Budzinski is a victim of Father Murphy and, through his daughter, told that he still thinks about the abuse every day but has been able to "pick up the pieces and move on, but some other victims are just stuck with it and dealing with the issues."
Father Murphy died in 1998. A victim of Murphy's is now suing the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, alledging the organization was complicit in allowing the priest to continue to serve actively despite having knowledge of his pedophilia.
A spokesperson for the archdiocese calls "The abuse committed by Father Lawrence C. Murphy 30 years ago was a horrendous betrayal of his priestly vows," also adding that checks now exist to "make sure that anyone who has abused a child no longer serves as a priest in any way."
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