Lawsuit Accuses Chaminade of a Sexual Abuse Cover up

CBS St. Louis
December 10, 2015

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/12/09/lawsuit-accuses-chaminade-of-a-sexual-abuse-cover-up/


A lawsuit filed by a former Chaminade High School student accuses the Marianist Order of covering up what it knew about abusive clergy at the school.

The suit filed on behalf of former Chaminade student Christoper Wimmer alleges that while he was a student there in the 1970’s, he was abused by two Chaminade Brothers that the Marianist order knew were trouble.

The two Chaminade brothers are deceased.

“We know from prior cases that the Marianists knew that these abusers had been abusing kids before they abused Chris Wimmer, who is our client,” Attorney Nicole Gorvosky says. “So, when he went and asked them about his abusers, they told him he was the first one to come forward and they had information sitting in their records that, that was not true.”

A statement was released by Rev. Martin Solma Provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States:

Regarding the lawsuit filed by Christopher Wimmer, the Marianists have not yet received a copy of the suit. We were first approached by Mr. Wimmer about 10 years ago, have met with him and his lawyers, and have assisted with counseling needs.

Regarding Mr. Wimmer’s allegation of recently learning that he was lied to, we have not been informed of details of such a conversation and have no reference for what this means.

We have been forthcoming with the media for a number of years, and would NOT intentionally cover up any information regarding alleged sexual abuse.

Regarding what he was told by the Marianists in the 1970s, we can only speak to what we know.

The lawsuit seeks an extension of the now expired statute of limitations.