Priest sues Indiana diocese after ‘no evidence’ found in sex abuse investigation

[Michie]

A priest in Indiana is suing his diocese for fraud and defamation after he was suspended over what the clergyman claims were false allegations of sexually abusing a minor.

Father James DeOreo in a filing at Boone County Circuit Court earlier this month alleged that the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, along with its vicar general, Father Theodore Dudzinski, committed both defamation and fraud, respectively, against DeOreo in a yearslong conflict over accusations against the priest.

The filing alleges that in January 2021, a parishioner alleged that DeOreo “abused the [parishioner] by encouraging him to fast and engage in other spiritual and ascetic practices,” which eventually led the individual to “suffer an eating disorder.”

A subsequent investigation found that “no abuse had occurred.” The diocese, however, “agreed to pay for the Complainer’s psychotherapy” in order to help him cope with his eating disorder.

DeOreo in the filing claims that Dudzinski “[sat] in on [the parishioner’s] therapy sessions” for several months throughout 2021, and that in several cases the vicar general allegedly told both the individual and his therapist that the diocese would reopen the investigation against DeOreo if accusations “of a sexual nature” were leveled against him.

The parishioner subsequently “made false allegations that DeOreo had abused him,” the filing says. The parishioner had claimed the abuse consisted of “verbal communication and innuendo,” including an “off-color” joke the priest reportedly told, as well as an instance where DeOreo allegedly claimed to have felt “tempted” around the accuser. The priest denied both situations ever occurred.

Continued below.

Priest sues Indiana diocese after ‘no evidence’ found

A priest in Indiana is suing his diocese for fraud and defamation after he was suspended over what the clergyman claims were false allegations of abusing a minor.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[RileyG]

I feel bad for him

 

[chevyontheriver]

I feel bad for him

Remember that this isn't the WHOLE story yet. Yes, it seems that a mere accusation against a priest has often been the excuse for a diocese to throw a priest to the wolves. But it isn't always obvious considering we only have HIS half of the story.

 

[RileyG]

Remember that this isn't the WHOLE story yet. Yes, it seems that a mere accusation against a priest has often been the excuse for a diocese to throw a priest to the wolves. But it isn't always obvious considering we only have HIS half of the story.

Thank you

 

[Solo81]

The priest is suing the Diocese for $10m; could that be a misprint?

 

[chevyontheriver]

The priest is suing the Diocese for $10m; could that be a misprint?

Would they pay attention to anything less?

 

[zippy2006]

Nienstedt is also waiting to be presented with the evidence.

Nienstedt case points to transparency tug of war

The announcement about Nienstedt may have opened as many questions as it resolved.

www.pillarcatholic.com

 

[chevyontheriver]

Nienstedt is also waiting to be presented with the evidence.

Nienstedt case points to transparency tug of war

The announcement about Nienstedt may have opened as many questions as it resolved.

www.pillarcatholic.com

"But the problem in the sexual scandals of recent years has been concern about ecclesiastical officials acting outside the norm of law, operating in a black box of secrecy, to resolve problems in whatever they see fit, with no public accountability about the justice of their choices."

With Nienstedt it is the Vatican that won't explain what's up even though archbishop Hebda wants more openness. In this Indiana case, who knows, but it seems like hiding behind the old 'we can't discuss ongoing cases' boilerplate from the lawyers. Still, it's done in a black box, seems arbirtary, is unaccountable, and seems lacking in justice.

The Nienstedt story may never be told. This Indiana priest might have his day in court.