A new lawsuit is being launched against a New Mexico diocese, alleging decades of abuse perpetrated by clergy members. The lawyers behind the suit are also launching an outreach project to entice other victims to come forward.
Levi Mongale is representing the victim known as John Doe 203. According to the complaint, the victim was a few years old when he started getting abused by Father Lawrence Gaynor at St. Anne’s Hospital. According to the lawsuit, Gaynor started abusing the victim around 2005 and continued to do so until 2015. The “John Doe” is a fictitious name used to hide the true identity of the victim. Joseph Parish in Lordsburg in the1960’s.
Catholic clergymen in the Las Cruces and Lordsburg areas at the time informed the Diocese of El Paso which oversaw these areas, that Father Lawrence Gaynor had several episodes of poor judgment in regards with male adolescents. Gaynor was warned by medical personnel as a risk to society and required continued psychiatric supervision.
According to the suit, Dr Peter Montague’s warning was disregarded. “At that time, our client was sexually abused as a child,” Mongale continued.
The lawyers are now attempting to reach additional possible victims. They’ve launched a website where victims can share their experiences, be connected to resources, and the general public may see a list of member clergy members who have credible accusations of abuse.