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	Sex Abuse Trial against Belleville Diocese Priest to Begin Wednesday News-Democrat August 19, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/439435.html BELLEVILLE — A jury has been seated and opening statements are set to begin tomorrow morning in a civil trial where a former altar boy is claiming he was psychologically damaged when a priest sexually molested him. The trial involves a lawsuit filed in 2002 by James Wisniewski, 47, of Champaign, who alleges that the Rev. Raymond Kownacki of Dupo molested Wisniewski beginning at age 13 at St. Theresa's Parish in Salem. Kownacki, who was removed from active ministry in 1995, has said he will not comment on the case. Wisneiwski's attorney, Mike Weilmuenster of Belleville, told Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto that the plaintiff will call two witnesses tomorrow — Monsignor James Margason, the former vicar general, and Monsignor Joseph Schwaegel, who was removed from ministry for sexual addiction not involving a minor. Copies of deposition testimony show that Margason and Schwaegel were involved with handling reports of sex abuse of minors by priests during the 1980s and 1990s. Cueto estimated that the trial will go to the jury by Aug. 27.
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