Fraud Trial to Begin Against Green Bay Diocese

Posted Sunday, May 13, 2012 --- 5:35 p.m.

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) -- Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the fraud trial against the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.

Two brothers sued the diocese in 2008, alleging it committed fraud by repeatedly transferring a priest without telling parishioners of his history of abuse. The diocese says it had no knowledge that John Feeney had committed abuse.

WLUK-TV reports that Outagamie County Judge Nancy Krueger denied the diocese's latest request to have the case dismissed, so the trial is set to start Monday.

The brothers, Troy and Todd Merryfield, could testify. Former and current bishops could also be potential witnesses.

Feeney was convicted of assaulting the brothers when Feeney worked at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom in 1978. Feeney has been defrocked and was recently released from prison.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.


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