GRAND MOUND (IA)
WQAD
By Kelly Hessedal
GRAND MOUND, IOWA - Allegations of sexual abuse started to surface long before James Janssen's nephew came forward.
The Saints Philip and James Church in Grand Mound, Iowa was the last parish he served before the church defrocked him. Several parishoners from the tiny town of 550 are attending Janssen's trial in Scott County.
Therese Green, was a member of that church while Janssen was there in the 1980s. She says he abused two of her sons when they were young teens.
"He used to stop in at our house and if none of the guys were there he'd just leave," she said.
Both sons were part of the 37 lawsuits settled by the Diocese of Davenport out of court.
"I'm angry at what he did and at the diocese for letting it go on and moving him from place to place when they knew it," Green said.
Posted by kshaw at May 5, 2005 07:55 AM