SAN ANTONIO (TX)
MySA.com
Web Posted: 02/25/2005 06:00 PM CST
Dionne Anglin
KENS 5 Eyewitness News
A 56-year-old Florida woman is suing the Archdiocese of San Antonio, claiming she was sexually abused.
The lawsuit reveals some startling allegations involving a priest.
Judy Rakestraw of Miami said the alleged abuse began at St. John the Evangelist School about 40 years ago.
In her lawsuit, Rakestraw says Father Myron Suize, who worked at the school as a teacher and volleyball coach, repeatedly fondled her over a period of three years, and at one point, attempted to rape her.
"The abuse our client sustained was so traumatic, that it was only within the last few years, as a result of on-going psychotherapy that she recovered her memory," said Adam Horowitz, Rakestraw's attorney. "Our client is a very brave woman; she's actually the head of a survivors' group of victims in Miami. She's made the decision to sue in her own name, because as head of the survivors' group, she's come across so many victims that she wants to send a message to the Catholic Church."
The archdiocese has responded only in general to the lawsuit.
Posted by kshaw at February 26, 2005 01:41 AM