HONOLULU (AP) — A Catholic church and school on Oahu have generated the most allegations across the state of priests and teachers sexually abusing students decades ago. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — A Catholic church and school on Oahu have generated
HONOLULU (AP) — A Catholic church and school on Oahu have generated the most allegations across the state of priests and teachers sexually abusing students decades ago.
Court documents say Saint Anthony Church in Kailua and Damien Memorial School in Kalihi have each recorded 21 sexual abuse complaints from the 1950s through the mid-1980s. Across the state, accusations have been made by 63 people against 26 priests, teachers and others. In all, 18 schools and churches have faced 40 lawsuits, Hawaii News Now reported (https://bit.ly/1R8RBpR).
According to the lawsuit, the late Father Joseph Henry has faced the most sexual abuse allegations. Eighteen men have filed complaints saying Henry molested them from 1952 to 1972, with most of the alleged incidents occurring at Saint Anthony Church.
Henry was the pastor and superintendent of St. Anthony Church and School until he died in 1974.
Other complaints at the church were against Father Joseph Ferrario, who was accused of sexually abusing boys in five cases between 1969 and 1981. All the alleged incidents occurred before Ferrario became bishop and headed the Catholic Church in Hawaii from 1982 to 1993. He died in 2003.
The lawsuits show that at Damien Memorial School, religion and history teacher Brother Robert Brouillette was accused in seven abuse cases from 1972 to 1987.
At least 30 of 40 sex abuse lawsuits have been settled by the Catholic Church.
Representatives of the Catholic Church and attorneys for the alleged victims declined comment.
