Priest sues woman over sex claims

CANADA
Winnipeg Free Press

By: Aldo Santin

A veteran priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is suing a former parishioner, alleging a damaging letter of complaint she wrote to his superiors resulted in his forced retirement.

Rev. John A. Melnyk, 84, said the woman’s letter alleged inappropriate sexual advances and contact, which Melnyk said never happened.

In a statement of claim filed recently, Melnyk said the woman’s letter of complaint “injured his credit and reputation” and resulted in him being “brought into scandal, odium and contempt.”

Melnyk is asking the court to award him unspecified special and general damages and his court costs.

The woman filed a statement of defence, insisting her letter of complaint was truthful, accurate and justified, and she denied her letter caused any damage to Melnyk’s reputation.

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