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Photo: Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces; via Wikipedia.
Attorneys have filed eight new lawsuits this week in Southern New Mexico, alleging that Catholic priests in multiple parishes sexually abused children as young as three years old between 1956 and 1990, Source NM reported Thursday.
The lawsuits, filed in the Third Judicial District Court, name the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces and the Catholic Diocese of El Paso as defendants and seek damages for what attorneys describe as “intentional, malicious, wilful, deliberate, wanton and/or reckless disregard for the harmful consequences.”
The lawsuits accuse clergy of abusing children in parishes located in Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Anthony, Doña Ana, Mesilla Park, and Ruidoso. Named in the complaints are Monsignor Albert Chavez, Father David Holley, Father Emilio Roure, Father Wilfrid Diamond, Monsignor Gonzalo Morales, Father Bernard Bissonnette, Father Joaquin Resma, and one unnamed visiting priest.
Both Holley and Bissonnette were previously sent to the Servants of the Paraclete Center in Jemez Springs, a now-notorious treatment facility that for years accepted priests accused of sexually abusing children. Despite their documented histories, the lawsuits allege the priests were reassigned to parishes without appropriate supervision or disclosure.
The lawsuits were filed by the Davis Kelin Law Firm and Huffman Wallace & Monagle, which have also published a resource page that includes nonprofit support services and information for survivors seeking counseling or advocacy.
Attorney Levi Monagle, representing the plaintiffs, emphasized that the trauma caused by child sexual abuse often silences survivors for years—sometimes decades. “There’s a perception this is a closed chapter in the church’s history, that this is all the past,” he said. “It’s certainly true that the vast majority of the abuse that occurred, occurred in decades past, but that doesn’t mean that the day-to-day lives of these victims have changed.”
In recent years, New Mexico has been called an “epicenter” of Catholic clergy abuse in the United States, due in part to the presence of Servants of the Paraclete and the documented history of priest shuffling between dioceses.
The Diocese of El Paso issued a written statement saying it is aware of the lawsuits and takes abuse allegations seriously. While declining to comment on pending litigation, the diocese highlighted its “Safe Environment” training programs and encouraged anyone with knowledge of clergy misconduct to report it to law enforcement or the diocese’s victim assistance office.
The Diocese of Las Cruces did not respond to requests for comment.
Monagle noted that while Catholic dioceses have maintained a “zero tolerance” policy for abuse over the past two decades, he believes more transparency is needed about how Church officials handled abuse in the past. “It’s an ‘actions speak louder than words’ situation,” he said. “Until people see a meaningful difference in the way that the church approaches the history of this issue, they’re going to have a hard time believing that the church’s policy for the future is any different.”
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse by a Catholic priest or Church official—even decades ago—you may still have legal options. Visit our Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide to learn about your rights, see how new lawsuits are making headlines across the country, and connect with experienced attorneys who can help you seek justice. You may also fill out the brief, confidential form below to have your case reviewed at no cost to you.
