ALASKA
Fairbanks News-Miner
By MARY BETH SMETZER
Staff Writer
The top Jesuit in the Northwest made a public apology Monday and a request for forgiveness and healing for Jane Doe 1 and other victims of sexual abuse by clergy in Alaska.
The provincial superior of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, the Rev. John D. Whitney, traveled to Anchorage to also announce the finalization of a $1 million dollar settlement in a sexual abuse lawsuit against former Nome priest Father Jim Poole.
The Fairbanks Catholic Diocese was also a defendant in the suit.
"We apologize to the victim of this misconduct and to all who have suffered a loss of hope and trust," said Whitney in a written statement. "We ask forgiveness as we strive to ensure that such actions do not happen again."
However, the plaintiff in the civil suit, Elsie Boudreau, previously identified as Jane Doe 1, was not appeased by the conciliatory statement, calling it a "slap in the face."
"They don't mention having gone through over a year of litigation, attempting to dismiss the case, trying to keep records from the public, trying to keep me quiet," Boudreau said. "It feels disingenuous, and not very tasteful."
Posted by kshaw at April 5, 2005 07:59 AM