WORCESTER (MA)
Telegram & Gazette
By Kathleen A. Shaw TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
kshaw@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The national Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests and a Maine activist with Voice of the Faithful yesterday questioned why a Maine priest accused of sexually abusing a Southboro man several years ago is still in active ministry in Maine.
Michael Stuart, then of Southboro, filed suit here in U.S. District Court in late 1995 alleging incidents of sexual abuse by the Rev. Real Nadeau. Rev. Nadeau is a pastor in the Portland, Maine, Diocese. The suit was settled in 1996 for an undisclosed amount of money.
In a letter to Bishop Richard Malone of the Portland Diocese, Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP; David Clohessy of St. Louis, executive director of SNAP; and Paul Kendrick of Portland, who is with the Voice of the Faithful-Maine Ignatius Group, asked for more information about the Worcester lawsuit, which named the Portland Diocese.
Sue Bernard, communications director for the Portland Diocese, said yesterday the allegations were investigated by the diocese at the time of the suit and no evidence surfaced that would show the events described in the suit actually happened. She said Rev. Nadeau has always denied the allegations. Mr. Stuart was 26 at the time of the alleged incidents and was an adult, she said.
“There are no plans to remove Father Nadeau at this time because there is no reason to do it,” she said.
Ms. Bernard said the lawsuit was settled without admission of guilt but terms were confidential. She said payment of some money was involved.
The lawsuit said Rev. Nadeau was “a sexually active homosexual” who “solicited” Mr. Stuart to engage in homosexual sex for money.
“All we know of this case is what we’ve seen in these court documents,” Ms. Blaine said.
“We haven’t spoken to either the victim or his attorney. But if Father Nadeau hurt Stuart or anyone else, we want them to know they can call us for help,” she said.
The SNAP officials and Mr. Kendrick have asked the bishop to reveal terms of the settlement, divulge the age of Mr. Stuart when he met Rev. Nadeau, and disclose whether other allegations have been made against the priest.
The Maine diocese alleged in its answer to the suit that Mr. Stuart admitted to “a history of dysfunctional sexual behavior.” The diocese said he worked as a stripper and male prostitute “and has had sexual relationships with adults other than Father Nadeau.”
The diocese maintained the lawsuit was part of “a scheme to go from diocese of diocese” seeking money. They said past court actions involved the Worcester diocese, the Hartford diocese and the Manchester, N.H., Diocese.
“We strongly doubt that all of this is true,” Mr. Kendrick said. “Even if part of it is true, that doesn’t mean Nadeau didn’t abuse Stuart. After being terribly betrayed and abused, some victims do end up becoming promiscuous and self-destructive,” he said.