Hawaii residents who were victims
of sex abuse at the hands of clergy are suing the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Honolulu and related religious institutions.
The six plaintiffs want the church to implement specific policies to stop abuse from happening.
The suit filed Thursday asks the
church to create a hotline for victims.
It also requests the church to
release victims from confidentially requirements in past abuse
settlements.
The plaintiffs believe such policy changes will encourage more victims to come forward.
Attorney Randall Rosenberg said
this is the first clergy abuse lawsuit filed in Hawaii he knows of that
asks the church to make policy changes rather than just compensate
victims.
Diocese spokesman Patrick Downes declined to comment.