In 2009 Troy Franks stood outside St. Anthony Church in
Kailua with signs saying he was abused by a priest.
He thought that was
all he could do.
Then he learned of the window law that allows victims
to sue.
Now he's turned in that sign for a lawsuit.
At 7 years old, life for Troy Franks was miserable. He says
he was physically abused by an alcoholic dad at home and sexually
abused by his priest at church.
"There are no words to describe it. You survive," said Troy Franks, who is now 46 years old.
He is the third person to accuse Bishop Joseph Ferrario,
who is now deceased, of sexual abuse.
In Franks' case he says the
molestations and assaults started in 1975 when he was seven and went on
for three years. He says it all took place on Church property.
He thinks
he was targeted because of his problems at home and his personality.
"I feel that I was more on the softer side. I wasn't that tough little boy" said Franks.
He never told his parents out of fear. He says his own dad
would beat him, his siblings and mom. Plus his parents thought the world
of Ferrario and the Church.
"When you're in that kind of situation as a young boy you
don't ask questions. You do what is told," said Franks. "Maybe the 11th
commandment should have been thou shall not, thou priest shall not
molest children."
Franks says he could never move on. He turned to alcohol
and served prison time for shoplifting and felony DUI. He also
contemplated suicide.
"The impact, my life has been a roller coaster," said Franks.
His attorney says there have been more than 30 people to
file lawsuits against the Catholic Church taking advantage of a two year
window that lets victims sue regardless of the time that's passed. The
two year window closes April 24, 2014.
"This is a problem that has gone on for many years and we
have not seen a resolution of it yet," said Mark Gallagher, Franks'
Attorney. "None of the cases have yet been settled. None of the cases
have yet been tried."
Gallagher says he is also talking with six more people about possible lawsuits.
Franks moved to Las Vegas four years ago. He's a painter
and is trying to move forward. He says openly talking about his past is
already helping with his future.
"This is just the beginning of my healing. I can't say I'll
ever be healed but at least I'm trying for myself in the process of
starting the healing," said Franks.
Troy Franks case was filed on Friday.
The Catholic Church had no comment on it or any of the previous lawsuits.