Pa. family who lost son sues church in abuse case

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Relatives of an alleged priest-abuse victim who died of a drug overdose say the man would still be alive if the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had heeded complaints about the cleric.

Attorneys for the family of Sean McIlmail announced a wrongful-death lawsuit against Roman Catholic church officials today.

They say the archdiocese knew of molestation allegations against the Rev. Robert L. Brennan about 10 years before McIlmail met the priest.

McIlmail claimed Brennan abused him for years, beginning at age 11 in 1998. Prosecutors filed charges in September against Brennan based on the allegations, but dropped them weeks later after McIlmail died at 26.

A church spokesman declined to comment. Brennan’s attorney has said previously that the priest hoped to clear his name at trial.