MICHIGAN
The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday, January 09, 2003
The Grand Rapids Press
The man who claims he was sexually molested by the Rev. Richard Lawie in the 1980s said he believes the priest made the right decision by resigning from his Jenison parish Wednesday.
Now he hopes the diocese doesn’t repeat its recent history by moving the priest to a different parish.
“I hope they’ve learned and don’t do that,” said David A. Hoogterp, 38, of Grand Rapids. “But I don’t know what to expect from them. Nothing would surprise me. I think he can do a lot of good without being in a parish.”
Lawie, 59, resigned from Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Jenison a day after The Press reported he and the diocese paid $90,000 last summer to settle Hoogterp’s claim he was sexually molested.
