A
letter sent by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana
to the papal nuncio in June, 1984, was the trigger that set in motion a
series of events that has changed the fate of the victims of child
sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and clergy of all denominations. The
letter informed the nuncio that the Gastel family had decided to
withdraw from a confidential monetary settlement with the diocese. It
went on to say they had obtained the services of an attorney and planned
to sue the diocese.
