MONTANA
Market Watch
Ten New Clergy Sex-abuse Victims File Suit Against Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana – from Kosnoff Fasy PLLC
GREAT FALLS, Mont., Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Attorneys on Wednesday filed a new civil lawsuit on behalf of 10 child sex-abuse victims against the Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana. One man says that a priest who currently advises the bishop on handling sex-abuse cases is himself a sex predator.
Father Ted Szudera is among five named individuals and numerous unnamed clerics accused of child molestation in court papers just filed in Montana Eighth Judicial District Court in Cascade County. Fr. Szudera allegedly sexually abused a teenager in 1978-1979 while assigned to St. Mary’s Catholic church in Livingston, Montana. The victim says that while he was an altar boy, Fr. Szudera abused him for two years, in the church, at school and at the priest’s home.
In 2006, Fr. Szudera’s alleged victim told church officials about the crimes and said that Fr. Szudera had threatened him that “bad things would happen to him” if he told anyone. Following the 2006 disclosure, the diocese paid for the victim’s counseling, allegedly conducted its own “investigation” but apparently took no action against Szudera. He remains in active ministry.
Great Falls Bishop Michael Warfel appointed Fr. Szudera to be on his Review Board, which advises the bishop on child sex-abuse cases. Fr. Szudera apparently maintains an active appointment on the panel. And according to church websites, Fr. Szudera now works at four Montana Catholic parishes: St. Mark’s in Belt, Holy Trinity in Centerville, St. Clement’s in Monarch and St. Mary’s in Raynesford. However, a priest at Szudera’s church said Szudera was removed from St. Mark’s about a month ago and is reportedly living in Great Falls.
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