DOVER -- The pastor of St. and her students, who will Elizabeth Parish told a Kent suffer. County Superior Court jury on "We are not abstract," she Tuesday he feels abandoned by said. the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shirley Bounds, principal of Wilmington and fears for the St. Elizabeth High School, future of his parish and its said she fears a possible schools. shutdown of the two schools, "I feel very much thrown which have more than 750 under the bus, as much of my students and 80 employees. parish have," the Rev. Norman "Three million [dollars] is a Carroll said on the stand. huge challenge," she said. "I "I've had no direction from don't know how it will be met. the Diocese of Wilmington. We " feel very much alone in this Cleary said she does not endeavor. We are fighting for condone or excuse what our parish," he said. happened to Vai, but said she Last week the jury awarded does not see how making the John Vai $30 million in current parishioners pay for damages for the years of what took place more than 40 abuse he suffered in the late years ago does any good. 1960s at the hands of now- Inside, the jury heard defrocked priest Francis equally dire assessments. DeLuca -- an associate pastor Officials said the parish may at St. Elizabeth's at the have assets worth $24 million time -- and held the parish to $33 million -- primarily responsible for $3 million of in its buildings and property that award. -- but last year it was $200, The jury is now considering 000 in the red as bills whether to impose an outpaced its $7.1 million additional, punitive award to income, mostly generated by -- as Vai's attorneys put it - tuition at the schools. - send a message about child Officials also said that a abuse and the apparent cover- $600,000 bill is coming due up of that abuse. in the next 12 months for a Carroll told the jury that loan taken out to pay for a any additional award "would new gym, something they hoped destroy us." to renegotiate with the bank Outside the courthouse and in but now fear could end in the courtroom Tuesday, default. parishioners, faculty, Kenneth J. Cresci, a fund students and alumni turned manager who volunteers as out in the cold to show their head of the parish finance support for their embattled committee, said he does not parish and its two parochial think the church can get a schools. loan to pay the $3 million The supporters -- about 20 in judgment and, while he wants the courtroom and 30 more the parish to continue, they outside -- were quiet, may have to "look at shutting letting their presence speak down the operation." for itself. Attorneys for Vai pointed out No one carried signs and that the parish has an unused there did not appear to be convent on its two-city-block any chanting or campus that is worth $2 demonstrations as jurors, million alone. Cresci also attorneys and others gathered said the parish has not Tuesday morning. But the talked to any banks about a group's affiliation was clear loan or made inquiries of a as many students were wearing bank associated with the St. Elizabeth's uniforms and Vatican. school jackets bearing the A real estate expert school's name and signature testified the entire property maroon and gold colors. might fetch only $18 million Some in the courtroom also to $20 million at a sale, but displayed the school's colors, he had no documentation to but Bailiff Kim Browning told back that up and said he had supporters to remove their not researched other options - jackets and sweaters or leave - such as selling part of the the courtroom, later property to develop town explaining that Superior houses. Court President Judge James T. Vai attorney Thomas S. Vaughn Jr. did not want overt Neuberger pointed out that a displays by either side in nearby elementary school that front of the jury. belonged to St. Thomas the Until Tuesday, the majority Apostle Parish was sold to of people in the courtroom Odyssey Charter School for $2. had often been Vai supporters, 8 million in 2008. including other victims of Under cross-examination, priest abuse and relatives of Carroll said he had met with victims. Wilmington Bishop Francis (2 of 2) Malooly and attorneys for the Outside, Janet Cleary, a diocese about the lawsuit teacher at St. Elizabeth before it went to trial and Elementary School, said she that the parish may be able and some of her students were to recover money from the there to let everyone know diocese. that while the lawsuit is Testimony is expected to against the parish continue and possibly corporation, the parish is conclude in the punitive made up of people like her phase of the trial today.
Tags: fears, future, pastor
