By Leila Walsh
WOAI
September 17, 2007
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=87a2fb53-7a10-49ad-861f-349d79fefe0f
A woman says she was sexually abused by a Roman Catholic priest in San Antonio. Now, her lawsuit is going to court.
The woman says the priest bought her jewelry and gifts. But she says the courtship ended with abuse.
Court papers show the woman was going through tough times and was looking for someone to talk to. She decided to confide in a priest, a man who had been to her house to perform the sacrament of the sick, when her husband was dying.
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| The woman says a priest bought her jewelry and gifts. But she says the courtship ended with abuse. |
"He appeared to be a good and trustworthy priest," said the woman who filed suit, Theresa Gomez.
Theresa saw Father Michael O'Brien again, eight years after her husband's death. O'Brien was performing a wedding ceremony. At the time, she thought he might be able to help her through some difficult times.
"Everything I told him just made me absolutely vulnerable and I believe he took advantage of that vulnerability," said Theresa.
Theresa also talked about how she was abused as a child by her step-father and a priest.
She tells News 4 WOAI they had several counseling sessions at a restaurant and eventually he told her to meet him outside an HEB. She says he had a Christmas present, which was a teddy bear.
"He had black leather, black vinyl outfit similar to Elvis and the bear started singing and gyrating, singing, 'I want to be your teddy bear,'" Theresa said.
Court papers say gifts were followed by sexual advances, such as groping, fondling, and passionate kissing. That escalated and eventually resulted in sex. When she reported the activity, she says nothing was done.
"I hope to get on with the rest of my life and I don't know what that looks like," Theresa said.
Theresa says she wants Father O'Brien and the Archdiocese of San Antonio held accountable.
News 4 WOAI checked with a spokesman for the Archdiocese. He says he can not comment on pending litigation. News 4 WOAI also tried to contact the attorney for Father O'Brien. He did not return calls.
It is believed that Father Michael O'Brien still lives in San Antonio, but we're told he does not have a current assignment with the Archdiocese.
Contact: LeilaWalsh@woai.com.
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