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	At Defrocked Priest's Trial, Ex-Aide Recounts Body Massages and Sexual Abuse By Jeff Coen and David Heinzmann WGN October 16, 2008 http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?At-defrocked-priests-trial-ex-aide-recou=1&blockID=91594&feedID=1536 Peter was just out of high school when he began work as an assistant to Donald McGuire, then a renowned Jesuit priest who traveled the globe for spiritual retreats. It was an honor to care for McGuire—until the priest began asking for body massages with baby oil, Peter told a federal jury in Chicago on Thursday. "He laid on his stomach," said the witness, who was permitted by the judge to use only his first name to keep his identity confidential. "He told me to start with the buttocks because it was the largest muscle and work out from there." Peter was the first accuser to testify at McGuire's trial. McGuire is charged with engaging in sex acts with an even younger teen while traveling overseas, but four other accusers have been allowed to testify as well. McGuire, 78, now defrocked, sat quietly at the defense table in a wheelchair as Peter described how the priest used confession to veer into sexual discussions. The massages became a daily occurrence in 1998, Peter said, but on an Alaska retreat the touching became more sexual. "I was shocked at first, but I did it because at that point I was comfortable giving him a massage," said Peter, 28 and a social worker for abused kids. "It didn't make me feel weird anymore—I thought he was in a lot of pain. It seems stupid now." During cross-examination, McGuire's lawyer, Stephen Komie, pointed out that Peter has sued the Jesuit order and McGuire for at least $300,000. Peter agreed with Komie that McGuire, a onetime adviser to Mother Teresa, is "a brilliant man." Peter testified he never told anyone about his alleged ordeal until he wrote his parents a letter several years ago. He said he never warned a boy he trained to be his replacement to care for McGuire, who has diabetes. That boy, named Dominick, was also sexually abused, prosecutors allege. Nancy Tanner, who once scheduled McGuire's retreats, testified Thursday that she questioned McGuire about taking Dominick on trips after the Jesuits restricted with whom he could travel. Tanner also said she found pornographic magazines among the priest's belongings. Contact: jcoen@tribune.com, dheinzmann@tribune.com.
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