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	Ex-Priest Testifies He Abused Boys at Indiana Parishes Journal and Courier December 14, 2007 http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS09/71214033 INDIANAPOLIS - A former Roman Catholic priest admitted in a deposition to committing lewd behavior or sex acts with at least five boys in three Indiana parishes, according to court documents. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis and ex-priest Harry Monroe are named in 13 lawsuits from men claiming Monroe sexually abused them between 1974 and 1984 in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Tell City. A transcript of the deposition was filed in Marion Superior Court this week in advance of a hearing scheduled Monday on the archdiocese's request that one of the lawsuits be dismissed because the statute of limitations has expired. The 59-year-old Monroe was removed from the ministry in 1984. In June he testified remembering playing games with two boys from the former St. Catherine's parish in Indianapolis, including "running around naked, putting shaving cream on people's privates and stuff like that." In another instance during the deposition, Monroe said he made an agreement to give a boy a hunting knife if the boy allowed Monroe to perform oral sex on him. He admits to having sexual contact with another boy at St. Catherine's that amounted to "probably just touching." Monroe spent seven hours under oath in June answering questions from Pat Noaker, the attorney representing all 13 plaintiffs, and an attorney for the archdiocese. Frequently struggling with his memory, Monroe said he probably had engaged several other boys in sexual acts. But he also said his heart problems and bypass surgery had left holes in his memory. Archdiocese spokesman Greg Otolski said Friday he could not comment on the lawsuits and had not seen Monroe's deposition. Monroe could not be located for comment as a phone number he gave during the deposition was disconnected. Noaker, the attorney who filed the lawsuits, has said the archdiocese acted improperly by shuffling Monroe from parish to parish without warning church members of his abusive nature. Noaker also said he would argue during Monday's hearing that the statute of limitation should not apply because the church knew for years of Monroe's predatory habits. Monroe testified that church officials knew he was taking boys into his private parish living quarters and on overnight camping trips. He also said church officials heard a recording of him having a lewd conversation with a boy during one of his first parish assignments in Indianapolis. Monroe, who said he was broke, in poor health and living with his domestic partner in Nashville, Tenn., testified that he did not know of the archdiocese ever calling police to report his abuse. A 1982 letter from then-Indianapolis Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara assigning Monroe to his final priestly appointment in Tell City was addressed to Monroe at the House of Affirmation, a California center that attempted to rehabilitate sexually abusive priests. The letter was filed with Monroe's deposition. Monroe blamed his behavior on alcohol, marijuana and powerful drugs such as Valium that left him behaving erratically, including riding a motorcycle naked on southern Indiana roads. "When I would drink and use drugs, I kind of reverted to adolescence myself," he said. "I never thought of myself as an adult, which is just tragic for them."
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