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1 Church Diocese Sues Another Over Accused Priest

NEW ULM, Minn. (AP) — In a rare move, the Diocese of New Ulm is suing another diocese, alleging it sent a priest to Minnesota without warning about past accusations of sexual abuse.

A report says the lawsuit is against the Diocese of Clogher in Ireland and the Servants of the Paraclete religious order.

The New Ulm Diocese claims it never would have accepted the Rev. Francis Xavier Markey in 1981 if it had been told about his past allegations. Markey is accused of abuse in the New Ulm Diocese.

He died in 2012 while awaiting trial on child rape charges in Ireland.

An attorney for the religious order said he hadn't seen the lawsuit. The Diocese of Clogher didn't return a message from The Associated Press.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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