Priest Target of Harassment Suit, by Rachel Barnhart, WHAM [Brockport NY], May 17, 2007

Priest Target of Harassment Suit

By Rachel Barnhart
WHAM [Brockport NY]
May 17, 2007

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=74b383e6-81f5-47c3-badd-a1b97d50e784

(Brockport, N.Y.) – A former employee of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester has filed a lawsuit against the diocese and a priest. The woman claims she was fired after she complained about unwanted sexual advances by the priest.

Sandra Rojas had been the coordinator for the Hispanic Migrant Ministry since 2004. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court this week, she claims Rev. Peter Enyan-Boadu tried to kiss her and grabbed her breast in 2006. Rojas says she was fired soon after she complained to her supervisor.

According to court papers, Rojas says her supervisor told her, "You put yourself in this position."

Rojas filed criminal charges against Rev. Enyan-Boadu in November. He was charged with forcible touching, attempted forcible touching, and harassment. The case is still pending, according to the Sweden Town Court office.

Rev. Enyan-Boadu was placed on administrative leave when he was arrested. He has worked in the diocese since 1998, most recently at Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brockport.

"When you bring complaints in good faith to your employer they should be duly investigated, duly remedied, and the contention in this lawsuit is that didn't happen," said Rojas' attorney, Christina Agola.

A spokesman for the diocese had no comment on the case, because it's a legal matter and the diocese had not been served with the lawsuit.

Agola said she expects the church to argue Rojas' firing was justified on First Amendment grounds.

"It's well-accepted churches are free to hire, fire or use whatever judgment they want to use in terms of employment decisions," she said. She added that laws regarding discrimination and harassment still apply to religious organizations.