Green Bay abuse case could bring Cdl. Maida, Bp. Ricken to the stand

Cardinal Adam Maida

from MKS JS

Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in a fraud trial against the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay after an Outagamie County judge denied the diocese's latest attempt to have the case dismissed.

Two brothers, Troy and Todd Merryfield, sued the diocese in 2008, contending it committed fraud by repeatedly transferring priest John Feeney without telling parishioners about Feeney's history of abuse.

The diocese has said it had no knowledge of abuse and also said the Merryfields have not presented enough evidence to support their claim.

WLUK-TV reported that Circuit Judge Nancy Krueger denied the diocese's latest request to have the case dismissed.

The Merryfields could testify in the case, which is expected to last two weeks. Former Green Bay bishop and now Cardinal Adam Maida - now retired in Detroit - is listed as a potential witness, as are Bishop David Ricken and Bishop Robert Morneau.

Feeney was convicted in 2004 of assaulting the brothers when Feeney was stationed at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom in 1978. Feeney has been defrocked and was recently released from prison.

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