Fort Worth Diocese settles priest abuse

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Fort Worth, Texas, Catholic Diocese paid an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit by a former student who said he was abused by the Rev. William Paiz.

The plaintiff, a former student at Nolan Catholic High School, said in January Paiz abused him between 1982 and 1987, beginning when he was 16 years old, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. John Doe No. 109 said he was assaulted at All Saints Catholic Church and St. George Catholic Church, where Paiz was a cleric. Paiz also taught religion at Nolan Catholic High School at the time, the diocese said.

"I really wanted to get Bill away from children," Doe told the newspaper Wednesday. "Those who have been abused should come forward. It will help to make a change and stop a predator from being able to repeat and hurt children. It's not about what happened to us; it's about what could happen to others."

The plaintiff's attorney, Tahira Merritt, said the agreement, reached Tuesday, provides that Paiz cannot work with children, juveniles or young adults, and cannot present himself as a priest. The diocese also must publicly acknowledge the allegations against Paiz are credible, she said.