Times report: Documents show Vatican was told about Wis. priest who may have molested 200 boys

Times: Vatican was warned about priest in Wis.

NEW YORK — Documents obtained by The New York Times show Milwaukee’s Roman Catholic archbishop warned a top Vatican office led by future Pope Benedict XVI about a priest who may have molested as many as 200 deaf boys.

The documents were provided by two lawyers who have filed lawsuits alleging the Archdiocese of Milwaukee didn’t do enough to defrock the Rev. Lawrence Murphy. The priest, who died in 1998, worked at the former St. John’s School for the Deaf in St. Francis from 1950 to 1975.

A Vatican spokesman told the Times Murphy’s poor health and a lack of more recent allegations were factors in the decision not to defrock him.