By Craig Civale
WFAA [Dallas]
May 1, 2007
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa070501_lj_civale.27e802c1.html
A second person has come forward making allegations of sexual abuse against a popular north Dallas priest.
Father Nicholas Katinas was already suspended while his church investigates claims by one of his former altar boys.
These new allegations are coming to light in a lawsuit.
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| Father Nicholas Katinas |
This is another Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church.
For many here, "Father Nick," as he was known, practically built this church.
In its 28 years as its leader he gained the trust of his parish.
A trust he's once again accused of shattering.
"I was horrified. I wanted to throw up. I was in shock."
These are the words of an angry mother whose identity we've disguised to protect her family.
According to a 32-page lawsuit, her son was one of two former altar boys allegedly abused by Katinas - a horrible secret her son kept for decades.
"He was too scared, too freaked out, and too guilt ridden to talk to me about it."
According to the lawsuit, her son was abused starting in 1983, when he was 13 years old and it continued for 3 years.
"He was sexually abused in the church itself, in the confessional, by the alter, approximately every other week or week," his attorney said.
Now a second victim has come forward.
The suit says another former altar boy at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church claims he too was sexually abused during the same time period.
It accuses officials at the church of "covering it up" and intentionally misleading their parish.
It goes on to say that they placed him in the ministry, gave him the disguise, the position, the access, the opportunity and the means to sexually molest minor boys.
A spokesperson at the church would not discuss the suit and neither would Katinas when we visited his home.
The former pastor is suspended by the church and has turned some of his most loyal followers against him.
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