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  Priest Accused of Molesting 2 Boys; Parents' Lawsuit Seeks $ 3 Million in Damages

By Sandra McIntosh
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
February 20, 1991

A priest from the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Stone Mountain has been accused of sexually assaulting two children in a lawsuit filed Tuesday seeking $ 3 million in damages from the priest and the church.

The Rev. Stanley Idziak is the second priest from the church to be accused of abusing young parishioners.

He preceded Anton Mowat, who fled to Britain and eluded authorities for 21 months after being accused of fondling four altar boys. Mowat pleaded guilty in DeKalb County Superior Court on May 24, 1990, to molesting the children, ages 12 to 14, while serving as a visiting priest at the church.

Mowat, 47, was sentenced to six years in prison and an additional nine years on probation.

The Rev. Idziak is accused of sexually abusing and molesting two brothers, according to the suit filed in Fulton County Superior Court by the boys' parents, [names redacted]. The suit also names Bishop James P. Lyke, the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Roman Catholic Church as defendants.

One child in the suit filed Tuesday, [name redacted], is listed only as "a minor", while the older son, [name redacted], is said to now be 19.

The suit contends that the Rev. Idziak, who was at Corpus Christi from 1981 to 1985, "used various methods of persuasion and manipulation" to keep the boys from telling their parents about the assaults.

In August 1985, the Rev. Idziak was transferred from Corpus Christi to St. Michael's Church in Gainesville, Ga. The abuse allegedly took place between 1985 and 1988. The Rev. Peter Dora, spokesman for the archdiocese, said the [name redacted] family met the Rev. Idziak at Corpus Christi and continued a friendship with him after he was transferred to Gainesville.

Mowat came to Corpus Christi in September 1985, a month after the Rev. Idziak left.

DeKalb District Attorney Robert E. Wilson said allegations against the Rev. Idziak were made by the [name redacted] family in 1988, but the priest was not indicted at the request of the parents.

"Our office was prepared to take whatever action was appropriate, but the family declined to prosecute at the time and we honored their wishes," Mr. Wilson said.

The Rev. Dora said that when the allegations against the Rev. Idziak surfaced the priest was immediately removed from his post at St. Michael's. The Rev. Dora said the priest's transfer from Stone Mountain to Gainesville was routine.

The Rev. Idziak is currently in a "church treatment facility" out of state, the Rev. Dora said.

 
 

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