January 05, 2005

Lawsuit names former Catholic school superintendent

BOSTON (MA)
Boston.com

By Denise Lavoie, AP Legal Affairs Writer | January 5, 2005

BOSTON -- Ten more clergy sex abuse lawsuits have been filed against the Boston Archdiocese, including one that accuses the archdiocese's former school superintendent of molesting a 15-year-old boy in the 1970s.

Eugene Sullivan, who is now pastor of St. Francis Xavier church in Weymouth, is accused in the suit of molesting a boy in his car in 1977.

Mark Martin, now 42, claims Sullivan fondled him as they rode in his car to Camp Fatima, a Catholic summer camp for children in New Hampshire.

Sullivan said he had not seen the lawsuit and had no immediate comment.

"I know nothing about that," Sullivan said when reached by phone at the church Wednesday. He told The Associated Press he couldn't remember Martin, saying "This is throwing me for a loop."

Sullivan was superintendent of schools for the archdiocese and assistant director for education in 1977, when Martin claims the abuse took place. The exact time frame he served as superintendent couldn't immediately been determined.

Kelly Lynch, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Posted by kshaw at January 5, 2005 03:14 PM