Priest Abuse Recalled From 1982 Prompts Suit

A victim known only as John Doe has come forward after 28 years to accuse a former Shreveport priest of sexual assault, as reported by the Shreveport Times.

Doe, now 40, alleges in a federal lawsuit that he was abused almost 30 years ago, when he was an 11 year-old child. 

The lawsuit is filed against an order of the Catholic, and names Jesuit priest Donald Dickerson for sexual abuse and exploitation dating back to 1982. 

Doe claims that the abuse took place while Dickerson was an assistant pastor at St. John's Berchman's.  Doe stated it was during this time that he and his family were converting to Catholicism.

Doe claims that the abuse occurred on four separate instances, in his family's home, that Dickerson frequently visited between the summer and the fall. 

Dickerson left St. John Berchman's in 1984.

In February of this year the memories came flooding back when Doe read a somewhat innocuous e-mail from an old friend.  Doe stated, "I received an e-mail from a friend I knew back then.  We were just shooting the breeze, and he said 'whatever happened to dirty old Dickerson.' And it just brought back memories.  I totally forgot about all that. It hit me like a ton of bricks and has been bothering me every since."

Felecia Peavy, a Texas-based attorney representing Doe, filed the lawsuit in New Orleans last week.  It alleges that the Jesuits hid their knowledge of Dickerson being a harmful sexual predator.  The suit states that the Jesuits failed to report him to authorities.

The Shreveport Times has made attempts to reach both Dickerson and the Jesuits - both have failed to respond.

The Diocese and its Cathedral Parish have not been contacted by anyone associated with the matter.  The Diocese of Shreveport's Bishop Michael G. Duca has just learned of the allegations and commented, "We all feel a deep sadness whenever allegations of sexual abuse are brought forward.  Our compassion and prayers go out to all associated with this case."

Peavy has represented one other person, in 2007, that lodged a sexual abuse claim against Dickerson as well.  That lawsuit entailed sexual abuse of a student at Jesuit High School in New Orleans as far back as 1974. 

Peavy said, "All of the detail concerning the abuse and how the perpetrator approached them are all similar.  From perpetrator to perpetrator, they all have their own style. But when you compare the approaches, you can see the similarities from one victim to another. It shows how he pursues his victims, and we believe there are more victims who have not been revealed."

John Doe is seeking $12 million in damages for both emotional and psychological injuries as well as punitive damages.

Doe said, "I just remember I was scared.  He was in position of authority over me. He just had that kind of power. I was too scared, and I can't stop thinking about it."

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