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	Testimony to Start Today in Priest Suit By Geaoge Pawlaczyk News-Democrat August 20, 2008 http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/440018.html BELLEVILLE - A jury was seated Tuesday, and opening statements are set to begin this 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 St. Clair County Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto that the plaintiff will call two witnesses today -- 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 was 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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