SPOKANE (WA)
Gonzaga Bulletin
Alex Fitterer
Issue date: 4/7/06 Section: Religion & Faith
While the Spokane Diocese is working to restore trust during the last 16 months, after filing for bankruptcy, an alleged claim against Catholic Bishop William Skylstad has only made matters worse. In recent weeks turmoil erupted when a woman claimed Skylstad sexually abused her in Spokane nearly 40 years ago. Skylstad firmly denies the accusations made against him.
A March 16 article published by The Spokesman-Review states, "The claim was filed Dec. 27 by a woman who said she was under the age of 18 between 1961 and 1964 - the time period she alleges that Skylstad sexually abused her at St. Patrick's Parish and at Gonzaga."
The alleged victim's name will not be released due to a court order related to the Catholic Diocese's bankruptcy case.
The article went on to state, "Skylstad, who was in his late 20s during the time of the woman's claim, was a student at Gonzaga University from 1962 to 1966, but had no apparent connection to St. Patrick's Parish in Hillyard. In fact, he was in Colbert, teaching math and physics to students attending Mater Cleri Seminary."