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Today, I am letting my readers interview the real-life male protagonist, William F. McMurry, woven throughout my book, The Unbreakable Child. I gathered up some of your questions and he gives his responses below.William, has in the past, and is currently the champion and strong voice for, amongst but just a few, victims of clergy abuse, fighting tirelessly for justice. And recently, William was co-counsel with Morris Dees and won a $2.5 million verdict against the leaders of the Imperial Klans of America for the racial attack of a 16-year-old boy of Panamanian descent.
Mr. McMurry, does this change the way you perceive humanity?
WFM: I began my law career as a prosecutor. I have been trained to believe that crimes should not go unpunished. I have been exposed to every brutal crime and inhumanity that exists in our world. My perception of the evil among us has not lessened over the last 30 years.
Mr. McMurry, does this change the way you perceive humanity?
WFM: I began my law career as a prosecutor. I have been trained to believe that crimes should not go unpunished. I have been exposed to every brutal crime and inhumanity that exists in our world. My perception of the evil among us has not lessened over the last 30 years.
Mr. McMurry, during the proceedings, how did you keep your anger in check?
WFM: It is important to always remember that you cannot be angry and smart at the same time. I prefer to stay smart.
WFM: It is important to always remember that you cannot be angry and smart at the same time. I prefer to stay smart.
Have any of your other clients been able to write about the clergy abuses? If not, do you think Ms. Richardson's book will open the door for others to do so?
WFM: I am aware of others writing books, but none were published to my knowledge. It takes rare talent to tell a story of this nature and see it through to publishing.
WFM: I am aware of others writing books, but none were published to my knowledge. It takes rare talent to tell a story of this nature and see it through to publishing.
Mr. McMurry, what was your biggest personal challenge during your clergy lawsuits?
WFM: Being available to my clients night and day. I was only able to get 3-4 hours of sleep for months. I was hard to live with and my Catholic-raised wife (and I was sharing office space with her father) was seriously troubled by the constant stream of news as the case unfolded and my involvement in this work. We separated and divorced within 8 months of my taking the first case in April of 2002.
WFM: Being available to my clients night and day. I was only able to get 3-4 hours of sleep for months. I was hard to live with and my Catholic-raised wife (and I was sharing office space with her father) was seriously troubled by the constant stream of news as the case unfolded and my involvement in this work. We separated and divorced within 8 months of my taking the first case in April of 2002.
How difficult is it to set aside the horrific facts and being immersed in a case like Kimmi’s, and close your briefcase and not have it eating at you all night when you're home with your own family?
WFM: It simply cannot be done. When one absorbs such grief and suffering, as you must in these circumstances, it affects everyone with whom you come into contact.
WFM: It simply cannot be done. When one absorbs such grief and suffering, as you must in these circumstances, it affects everyone with whom you come into contact.
Mr. McMurry, how did you respond to devout Catholics who believed you were wrong to be involved in suing the church on something many of them, without having seen the evidence, would have found hard to believe?
WFM: As hard as it is to believe, and it seems counter-intuitive, virtually all of my mail, notes, cards, messages and taps on the shoulder were extremely supportive, after I had amassed enough victims to tip the credibility scale. The reality is, Catholics know the difference between right and wrong. They understand the importance of standing up for those who have been wronged, even if it is their church that committed the wrongs. I personally feel that the parishioners should not have to bear the economic burden of these cases, but the responsibility should be borne by the Holy See. The Bishops were carrying out direct orders that they not report known or suspected child abuse, which reporting is required of every citizen, by State law.
WFM: As hard as it is to believe, and it seems counter-intuitive, virtually all of my mail, notes, cards, messages and taps on the shoulder were extremely supportive, after I had amassed enough victims to tip the credibility scale. The reality is, Catholics know the difference between right and wrong. They understand the importance of standing up for those who have been wronged, even if it is their church that committed the wrongs. I personally feel that the parishioners should not have to bear the economic burden of these cases, but the responsibility should be borne by the Holy See. The Bishops were carrying out direct orders that they not report known or suspected child abuse, which reporting is required of every citizen, by State law.
What did you see as your biggest challenge with this lawsuit?
WFM: The statute of limitations required that any claim of abuse by a child be brought by a lawsuit before their 19th birthday, if they seek to hold the perpetrator's employer (Archdiocese/Diocese) accountable.
WFM: The statute of limitations required that any claim of abuse by a child be brought by a lawsuit before their 19th birthday, if they seek to hold the perpetrator's employer (Archdiocese/Diocese) accountable.
Mr. McMurry, as a writer I'm curious, how did you feel when you first held Kimmi's published memoir in your hands?
WFM: Relief. Kim put so much of herself on the line for this book. I wanted to see it published.
WFM: Relief. Kim put so much of herself on the line for this book. I wanted to see it published.
Mr. McMurry, what was the key piece of evidence that persuaded the church to settle?
WFM: If by church you mean the Archdiocese of Louisville which settled 243 of my cases for $25.7 million in 2003, the evidence of the Church’s knowledge was in the Church files. Probably the most powerful testimony came from former priest Louis Miller (named as the perp in 90 of the 243 cases). He testified that he twice went to two different Archbishops telling of his abuse of kids and that he could not stop himself. He wanted to be relieved of his duties and released from an environment where he could not control his urges. Both of the Archbishops sent him back into the parishes, saying “go and sin no more.”
WFM: If by church you mean the Archdiocese of Louisville which settled 243 of my cases for $25.7 million in 2003, the evidence of the Church’s knowledge was in the Church files. Probably the most powerful testimony came from former priest Louis Miller (named as the perp in 90 of the 243 cases). He testified that he twice went to two different Archbishops telling of his abuse of kids and that he could not stop himself. He wanted to be relieved of his duties and released from an environment where he could not control his urges. Both of the Archbishops sent him back into the parishes, saying “go and sin no more.”
What can you say to persuade victims of these sorts of crimes to come forward years later? In your experience, have they found it to be therapeutic?
WFM: The healing begins when the victim comes forward and points their finger at the institution that allowed this abuse to occur. All child victims carry a sense of guilt and responsibility for their abuse. Only when, as adults, they stand up and point the finger at the responsible party do they stop blaming themselves, so the healing can begin.
WFM: The healing begins when the victim comes forward and points their finger at the institution that allowed this abuse to occur. All child victims carry a sense of guilt and responsibility for their abuse. Only when, as adults, they stand up and point the finger at the responsible party do they stop blaming themselves, so the healing can begin.
How can we get more people to be brave and honest in the face of evil that's embedded in the Church?
WFM: For some reason the practice of law attracts far too many men and women who put money and their personal agendas before others. I like the line from The Life of David Gayle, which reads..."Remember, in the end, the significance of our lives will be measured by the value we place on the lives of others."
WFM: For some reason the practice of law attracts far too many men and women who put money and their personal agendas before others. I like the line from The Life of David Gayle, which reads..."Remember, in the end, the significance of our lives will be measured by the value we place on the lives of others."
Are you hopeful about the Vatican Case and the possibilities for change it could bring?
WFM: It is crucial that the institution responsible for the abuse be held accountable. Secrecy allowed decades of abuse to occur. The Holy See mandated that secrecy and should be held accountable to US citizens, in US Courts.
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Thank you, William, for your courage, perseverance and dedication to so many. We should all be so lucky to have a William in our corner. Now more than ever the world can definitely use a lot more William F. McMurry’s.
WFM: It is crucial that the institution responsible for the abuse be held accountable. Secrecy allowed decades of abuse to occur. The Holy See mandated that secrecy and should be held accountable to US citizens, in US Courts.
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Thank you, William, for your courage, perseverance and dedication to so many. We should all be so lucky to have a William in our corner. Now more than ever the world can definitely use a lot more William F. McMurry’s.
