May 06, 2005

Former priest recants, denies abuse of boy

DAVENPORT (IA)
Des Moines Register

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

May 6, 2005
A defrocked Roman Catholic priest took the stand Thursday and recanted his earlier testimony that he sexually abused a boy almost 50 years ago.

James Janssen, 83, testified in a trial over a lawsuit filed by a man who claims that Janssen sexually abused him as a child and that church officials kept it secret for decades.

Janssen admitted the abuse during testimony on Wednesday, but said he could not recall specific incidents.

On Thursday, he recanted that testimony saying he did not abuse the man, now 56.

Janssen called sexual abuse of a child "horrible" and "gross" and testified that all the allegations against him by the man were false.

Posted by kshaw at May 6, 2005 05:18 AM