DAVENPORT (IA)
Sioux City Journal
05/09/2005 03:00:14 PM
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) -- A defrocked Roman Catholic priest was ordered Monday by a Scott County jury to pay $1.8 million to a man he sexually abused nearly 50 years ago.
According to WQAD in Moline, Ill., the man testified that James Janssen, 83, molested him over a period of several years in 1950s and 1960s, and that church officials kept it secret for decades.
During testimony last week, Janssen admitted the abuse then recanted the testimony the following day.
Janssen was removed from the priesthood last year by the Vatican.
He was assigned to several eastern Iowa parishes between 1956 and 1988 and is accused of abusing boys throughout his career.
Posted by kshaw at May 9, 2005 07:00 PM