Group Challenges Diocese... Priest Sex Abuse

Original article
10/08/09

Elsie Boudreau , a Yup'ik Eskimo from Alaska and a victim of Jesuit priest sexual abuse for nine years, wants other Native American victims to know that coming forward may be difficult, but their not alone.

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"It's okay to say a priest did these things to me," said Boudreau, who now works with other clergy sex abuse victims. "I filed a claim against the Catholic church. I was raised Catholic. I loved the Catholic church. It broke my heart to file a claim, but in doing so that the Jesuits knew long before I was even born that my perpetrator had problems with young girls."

But for victims of Jesuit Priests in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, time to file a claim is quickly running out. Because the Society of Jesus here in the Northwest has filed for bankruptcy, victims only have until November 30th to file a claim. Victims like Elsie and attorneys who work with victims believe the Great Falls-Billings Diocese hasn't done enough to publicize the deadline.

Greg Hatley, an attorney for the Great Falls-Billings diocese says they've done all they've been asked. On page 19 of the September issue of the diocese newsletter, there is a legal notice stating the claim deadline. The newsletter is posted online, and the printed version reaches 58,000 individuals. Plus, The Great Falls-Billings diocese has also only had two Jesuit priests in the past 15 years.

If you would like information on the claim process, visit www.b,cgroup.com/sjop.