The former student, identified by the initials "J.T." in the lawsuit, claims that the Rev. John Schwartz engaged in various sex acts with him in 1986 and 1987.

John Kaempf, an attorney for Jesuit High School, issued the following statement:

"First and foremost, the Jesuit High School community condemns sexual abuse. In its nearly 50 years of educating students, Jesuit has never before had a priest accused of sexual abuse of a student. Jesuit's most important priority is the safety of its students.

"Unfortunately, this is the first notice to Jesuit of these claims, which involve alleged events nearly 20 years ago and an anonymous plaintiff. Father John Schwartz was never accused of any wrongdoing when he worked for Jesuit from 1981 to 1987.

"Jesuit will promptly investigate this matter so this case can be fairly resolved," wrote Kaempf, a shareholder in the law firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey.

Schwartz is no longer a member of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He is now a parish priest in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Kaempf said.

A spokesman for the San Francisco Archdiocese did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.

The lawsuit against Jesuit High was filed Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Jesuit is an Oregon nonprofit and is independent of the Portland Archdiocese, which sought bankruptcy protection last year in the face of millions of dollars in sexual abuse claims.