A priest currently employed as the Catholic chaplain for the Indy 500, has been served with a federal lawsuit, as reported by The Morning Call and the Chicago Sun Times, for allegedly abusing a boy in the 1980s.
The priest, Rev. P.D., originally of Nazareth, is being sued by a man identified as John Doe, 40, for eight years of sexual abuse. The abuse allegedly occurred in the Washington, D.C., area.
P.D. is well known in the Indy 500 circle and counts many racing celebrities, and film stars, as his friends. He is also been known to conduct marriage ceremonies for his celebrity contacts.
In the lawsuit P.D. is referred to as a “semi-celebrity priest”.
P.D. was ordained at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth in 1968. Since that time he has served all over the globe in missionary programs and for charities.
On the Indy Racing League Ministry website, P.D. is listed as the chaplain and part of the staff. The non-profit group’s mission is to help provide religious support to the car racing community.
P.D. is thought to be living in Aurora and the lawsuit was filed in the Northern District Court of Illinois against both the priest, and his religious order, Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
In the suit, the victim stated that he had repressed memories of sexual abuse by P.D. He stated that the incidents began when he was 11 years old and continued until he was approximately 19.
The lawsuit also states that the priest sent John Doe emails in 2010 to try and convince him to take money in an effort to keep his allegations quiet. It is also contended that P.D. acknowledged the molestation in the e-mails.
The priest’s standing with the Indy 500, and his celebrity contacts, allowed him to make the plaintiff feel honored, per the suit, just to be associated with him.
Though the victim stated that the abuse ended after he graduated from high school, the two had some contact. P.D. later baptized the victim’s two children.
When the victim’s own son had a “minor incident” in 2006, the victim claimed that it “prompted a flood of memories” in him – all in reference to P.D.’s sexual abuse.
The “flood of memories” has taken an extreme toll on the victim’s marriage and employment. Per the complaint, his marriage ended in divorce.
He also lost his restaurant franchise business due to financial problems.
John Doe is seeking damages, and, a permanent injunction that will bar P.D. from every having contact with children again.
P.D. was removed from the ministry by the order when the abuse allegations were brought to their attention.
He had served as chaplain at Allentown’s Sacred Heart Hospital in 1979 and concelebrated Mass with then Pope John Paul II in 1986.
In 1981 P.D. was appointed as the first official chaplain for the Indy car circuit’s Championship Auto Racing Teams. Before races, P.D. would set up makeshift altars so that Masses could be celebrated before the races.
If a member of the clergy has sexually abused you, and the effects have caused you any difficulties, contact a personal injury attorney. Oftentimes monetary awards are awarded for your pain and suffering.