The Kansas City Star has reported that one man has accused three priests of sexual abuse - all three having a history of sexual abuse accusations - and has filed a lawsuit accusing the Roman Catholic diocese leaders of knowing and covering up the priest's sexual misconduct.
J.E., a southwest Missouri resident, now 40 years old, accused Roman Catholic priests Monsignor T.J.O., Rev. M.H. and Rev. T.R. of abuse that occurred in the 1980s beginning when J.E. was 9 years old and continuing until he was 12.
Monsignor T.J.O. is now retired in the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, M.H left the diocese in 2001 and T.R. left the diocese and the ministry in 1989.
The suit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court and seeks unspecified damages.
J.E., outside of diocesan headquarters spoke at a news conference. With friends and supporters at his side he said, "I grieve for the boy I was and the innocence that was lost at the hands of men my family and I trusted who abused their position of religious authority."
J.E. alleges in the suit that the abuse occurred when he attended grade school at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish. He also said that some of the abuse occurred in the Lake Viking community some 60 miles out of Kansas City.
Between 1981 and 1984, the plaintiff said he was given drugs and alcohol before being abused by T.J.O. and T.R. in a car at the lake house the two took him to in Lake Viking.
The suit further alleges that J.E. was sexually abused by M.H. from 1980 to 1984.
He stated that repressed memories of abuse began resurfacing earlier this year, and that he has attempted suicide - due to the recalled memories - more than once because of it.
The three clergymen were unable to be reached for comment. The diocese, however, made this statement, "Over the past 27 years, neither (J.E.) nor anyone acting on his behalf ever made contact with the diocese to report the abuse."
Since 2002 T.J.O. was put on permanent restriction from representing himself has a member of the clergy, and earlier, in 1984, he had retired from parish ministry.
M.H. served most recently at Pennsylvania's Diocese of Scranton, but was removed in February due to an allegation the diocese received regarding sexual abuse. He worked in a total of six parishes from 1980 to 2001 within the diocese. Yet, the diocese said of M.H., "Over the 21-year period of Father (M.H.) ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, there were no complaints of sexual misconduct brought to the attention of his superiors."
And, as far as T.R., the diocese reported that he was assigned to five parishes for over 22 years before leaving the ministry in 1989. The diocese is currently going through the process of formally removing him from the priesthood, through church courts. Their statement reads, "Through a public liaison and ombudsman, the diocese has made in known that it will respond to all allegations of abuse."
M.H. has the least number of sexual abuse accusations - this suit is his third - while T.J.O. and T.R. lawsuits number in the dozens.
If you have recalled memories of clergy abuse, you should consider filing a lawsuit. Telling your story can help future generations from harm. Contact a personal injury lawyer today!