Father X Sues Abbey for Sexual Abuse

The Woodburn Independent in Mount Angel, Oregon, has reported that a Roman Catholic Priest, known only as Father X, has named Mount Angel Abbey in a sexual abuse lawsuit for activities that happened almost 40 years ago.

Father X has alleged that a Father at the Abbey, Emmanuel Clark, now long deceased, held him to his unzipped pants, and at other times, pinned him to his chest. 

Clark told Father X that his heart beat with the love he felt for him.

Clark also engaged the youth - Father X was a student at Mt. Angel Preparatory High School at the time - in unsuitable conversations about sex and suggested that he frequent adult bookstores. 

The lawsuit is requesting more than $1 million in damages.

Bill Barton, Father X's Newport attorney, said that the case is regarding "sustained and ongoing inappropriate sexual behavior."

Barton further attested that his client had been "walking a challenging path" before coming forward.  He said, "As a man of conscience, he came to the conclusion that this was something he felt he had to do, in the name of accountability and for his own healing."

Attorney Erin Olson, from Portland, also represents Father X.

Barton claims that there were two other people, before Father X, that have come forward with allegations against Mt. Angel Abbey.

Stephen English, the attorney for Mt. Angel feels that Father X's claims don't indicate abuse beyond the surface.  He stated, "Mt. Angel Abbey absolutely condemns child abuse.  Having said that, what appears to be complained about … is that 36 years ago this gentleman, who is now a priest, was hugged through clothing and apparently he's indicating that's caused him lifelong problems. Obviously, we need to investigate something that does not on its face appear to be sexual abuse."

The legal complaint shows that Father X was 14 when he entered the prep school in 1974.  After graduation he continued on his path to become a priest and entered Mt. Angel Seminary.  He was a practicing priest by 1986.

As Clark was Father X's spiritual advisor, he used his power to "manipulate, groom and molest" the youth.  He allotted the boy a pet name, held him in his arms at length and encouraged that he learn all of "the varieties of potential sexual experiences available" via adult books.

Father X claims to have been so disturbed by the abuse that he suffered not only physical and emotional pain, but also dysfunction, shame, depression, eating disorders and general confusion about sexual orientation.

The complaint states, "The manipulations, grooming, molestation and breach of trust of Father X is further socially intolerable and was part of a long-standing pattern of sexual exploitation of minors by Roman Catholic priests and seminarians of Mt. Angel Abbey."

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