CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Tribune
By Margaret Ramirez
Tribune religion reporter
Published July 14, 2005
African-American men who were sexually abused as children by a Roman Catholic priest demanded Wednesday that church officials take steps to find other victims who may be suffering in silence.
Rev. Victor Stewart, who died in 1994 at age 54, abused at least 22 boys during the 1980s, some as young as 7, according to an attorney for the accusers.
Fourteen of the men have reached settlements totaling $3 million with the Archdiocese of Chicago, said attorney Phillip Aaron of Seattle. Settlements are pending for eight more victims, he said.
Stewart, an African-American priest, worked at two South Side parishes--St. Charles Lwanga, now closed, and St. Ailbe--as pastor, principal and basketball coach, victims said.
Archdiocese spokesman Jim Dwyer confirmed that church officials had reached a settlement with Stewart's accusers but declined to provide details. Their claims were determined to be credible, he said.
Speaking out publicly for the first time Wednesday, several victims said Stewart preyed on families who were struggling financially, showering the children with gifts and then abusing them.
Monty Murphy, 35, said that when he told his younger brother, Reggie, two years ago about the abuse, he learned the priest had molested them both.