Priest Sex Abuse Victim Speaks Out After Trial

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - At St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, John Vai considered himself a victim.

"We were afraid to say something because the priests were held in such high esteem," said Vai. "We were dealing with God figures."

Now, forty-six years after the abuse that stole his youth, Vai is a survivor. A civil court jury found that Father Francis DeLuca was his abuser.

"He took advantage of me and numerous other kids," said Vai, "and they scarred us for life."

In a civil trial that lasted eight weeks, Vai won a $3 million verdict in December against St. Elizabeth and Deluca, but he says he would trade it all for the truth.

"There's still a lot of truth that needs to come out."

It came out in court that Diocesan officials "...apologized for the cover up and for the church's inability to cope appropriately with the situation." The diocese moved DeLuca around to other parishes, where court records show he abused other young men.

In 2007, DeLuca was criminally convicted of sexually molesting his grandnephew in Syracuse.

"Francis DeLuca," said Vai, hesitating, "now I know the terminology - is a serial pedophile, a convicted serial pedophile."

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the latest grand jury report revealing cases of child sex abuse is a reminder to Vai that there are more victims out there. He got his day in court, an option not available to many victims in Pennsylvania because of the statute of limitations.

"I'm a forgiving person, but in order to give forgiveness, I need to see some sense of sorrow. And so far I haven't seen any in Delaware and obviously none in Pennsylvania and elsewhere."

No matter how hard it is for Vai to speak about his abuse, he sees it as an obligation to the children of all religions to make sure none of them become victims as well.
The Diocese of Wilmington is now going through bankruptcy hearings.

Part of the bankruptcy agreement may require the Diocese to turn over its archived documents. Sex abuse victims see the documents as an opportunity to learn more about abuse in the church.

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Reported by Oren Liebermann, CBS 3