January 26, 2005

Accuser describes memories of being raped by disgraced priest

EAST CAMBRIDGE (MA)
Court TV

By Emanuella Grinberg
Court TV
EAST CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A former Air Force police officer described his memories of sexual abuse at the hands of his parish priest to a jury Wednesday in Cambridge, Mass.

The man accusing defrocked priest Paul Shanley of sexual abuse testified that the disgraced clergyman would remove him from his Sunday-school classes at St. John's Parish in Newton, Mass., for what Shanley called "special duties."

"When we were good kids, we got to do that," the 27-year-old from Newton told the court, whose audience grew significantly in anticipation of the testimony.

Shanley was indicted on several counts of child rape and indecent assault and battery in June 2002 stemming from allegations made by four accusers, who were members of the church Shanley was assigned to from 1979 to 1989.

Posted by kshaw at January 26, 2005 03:08 PM