Named in the lawsuit was the alleged pedophile priest Fr. Ralph Johnson now living in Gibson, Pennsylvania. According to an eyewitness report the judge showed considerable interest in the now resigned diocesan administrator's breaking into Bollinger's personal accounts.

Bollinger's wife Kelly is also claiming $250,000 as part of the lawsuit for "wrongful and tortuous conduct of the defendants, loss of services and consortium with her husband" thus impairing his health.

The bishop sought unsuccessfully to have the charges dropped. The bishop presented the suit as a violation of his First Amendment rights to discipline his clergy. The lawsuit is not about property rights.

While Bollinger has not been removed from the parish, he cannot function as a priest. He has been inhibited but not deposed. His lawyer David Goulden maintains that the inhibition is no longer effective because the Standing Committee of the Diocese did not play by the rules and did not hold hearings. The presentment against Fr. Bollinger has been extended for 90 days from April 5.

Diocesan attorney Jonathan Fellows wore a tie with all kinds of crosses on it, an observer noted, and works for the high end Syracuse law firm of Bond, Schoeneck and King. The law firm allegedly charges $300 to $400 an hour. It is estimated that the diocese will spend $220,000 to $300,000 to defend itself and to bring Bollinger down, said a source. "We believe the diocese will need to get assistance from a fund administered by the national church to pay the fees in lawsuits brought by bishops against priests," he said.

A decision will be made on June 16.

END