November 03, 2005

Woman files fifth claim against Jesuit priest

ALASKA
OregonLive

11/2/2005, 5:50 p.m. PT
By MARK THIESSEN
The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A woman filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming a Jesuit priest used his position as a catechism teacher in Nome nearly four decades ago to sexually harass her.

It's the fifth allegation lodged against the Rev. James Poole, 82, who worked for much of his 40-year career in rural Alaska. Two of the claims have been settled for more than $1 million.

The latest plaintiff, referred to only as Jane Doe 4, is not Catholic but her parents urged the girl — then 7 — to attend catechism classes in either 1968 or 1969 for moral instruction, according to the lawsuit filed in Nome.

Posted by kshaw at November 3, 2005 07:41 AM