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	Man Says He Was Sexually Abused by Former Miami Dolphins Chaplain NBC 6 December 20, 2007 http://www.nbc6.net/news/14902303/detail.html MIAMI — A dark cloud hung over the Archdiocese of Miami and a former chaplain for the Miami Dolphins after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced once again on Thursday. A place of peace, refuge and forgiveness became an unholy ground for alleged victim Eddie Carvan, now in his 40s. "My name is Eddie Carvan, and I'm here today to come forward as a victim of child abuse by a Catholic priest," Carvan said. Carvan said that, decades ago, the Rev. Donald Walk of St. James Church in Miami, who was also a former team chaplain for the Miami Dolphins, sexually abused him when he was a teenager. On Thursday he announced that he's fighting back in court. Carvan said he is suing Walk and the Archdiocese of Miami for up to $10 million in damages. "When you are 13, 14, 15 years old you don't see what's really happening around you," he said. Walk often took children from the church to Dolphins games. The alleged victim said after the games is when the abuse took place. "Father walk did use his position as chaplain of the Dolphins to bring Eddie to games, to groom him, to get his trust and to continue to abuse him for five years," said Jeffrey Herman, Carvan's attorney. Carvan and his attorney said at no time did the Dolphins organization know about the abuse. "We believe the archdiocese of Miami was well aware of what was going on all during this time period and just completely ignored it," Herman said. Walk is a retired priest without faculties currently residing in Venice, Fla. The Archdiocese of Miami released a statement saying, "The archdiocese takes any allegation seriously and, as stated in our policy, we report the allegations to the state attorney's office, start the process of healing and reconciliation for the alleged victim and accused." "I think the archdiocese is definitely trying to make good, but it's 25 years, 30 years too late," Carvan said. This was not the first time Walk has been accused of sexual abuse. This summer, the Archdiocese of Miami agreed to settle six separate sexual abuse cases dating back to 1973 in the amount of $750,000. Walk was one of the priests named in that suit. NBC 6 tried to contact Walk but was unable to reach him.
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