BishopAccountability.org

Woman suing Catholic school for alleged 1970's sexual abuse

Fox 25
August 3, 2016

http://www.fox25boston.com/news/woman-suing-catholic-school-for-alleged-1970s-sexual-abuse/416420393

[with video]

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. —

A former student at a Catholic school in Framingham is suing the school for alleged sexual abuse in the 1970's. 
 
The lawsuit claims a catholic high school and the Boston archdiocese looked the other way while a teacher repeatedly raped one of her students.
 
"The teachers knew, the kids knew. It was not a hidden thing. That's why I thought there was nothing wrong with it," said the victim. 
 
The woman, who is now in her 50's, says when she was a 14-year-old at Marion High School when the abuse began. The lawsuit claims the former teacher repeatedly raped her over a two year period. 
"I believe it was the people who were on the outside of it, that were looking at it, supervising it, that were above her that should have done something," she told FOX25. 
 
The teacher, who was in her late 20's at the time, "Jane Doe's" sexual education teacher and coach.  The 14 year-old at the time was having trouble at home and the teacher offered her a place to live.
 
"It was a means by which she was able to control Jane and have sex acts with her during that time," said the victim's attorney, Carmen Durso. 
 
As reported on the FOX25 News at 5 and 6, the suit says the teacher gave her alcohol and marijuana and let her driver her sports car. Eventually "Jane Doe" quit school and left the teacher's home. She said it wasn't until recently, four decades after the fact, she figured out she was a victim.
 
"It takes a very long time to come to terms with victimization I think," said the victim. 
 
Both the school and Boston archdiocese told FOX25 because it is a pending legal matter, they cannot comment. The school has been independent of the diocese since 2004. "Jane Doe" said she's speaking out to help others. 
 
"I'm just really doing this. Not particularly against her, totally, but against the system that is allowing this," she said. 
 
FOX25 reaching out to the former teacher and coach down in North Carolina where she now lives, but we have not been able to get a comment.
 
The suit is asking for damages in an amount which is fair, just. and adequate for the injuries and damages sustained and the pain and suffering endured.

 




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