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	Deadline near to File Church Abuse Claims By Travis Coleman Great Fallls Tribune November 22, 2009 http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20091122/NEWS01/911220311/1002/news01 Native Americans sexually abused by Jesuit priests have eight days left to seek damages from the bankrupt church. The Society of Jesus, Oregon Province filed for bankruptcy protection in February in the wake of more than 200 lawsuits alleging that priests sexually abused children in northwestern states. One condition was that victims have until Nov. 30 to file an abuse lawsuit against the Jesuits. After that, no claims can be brought against them. The Jesuits have since 2001 paid out more than $25 million to sex abuse victims. Attorneys have in recent months canvassed the state looking for Native Americans to come forward with claims. Attorney Kenneth Roosa of Alaska said Friday he has gotten a good response from people in Montana. "More than what I expected," said Roosa, who has been visiting state reservations along with other attorneys. Attorneys are focusing on claims against multiple now-deceased priests, including Father Augustine Ferretti and Father Bernard McMeel, who were believed to have spent time on either the Flathead, Rocky Boy's or Fort Belknap Indian Reservations. They had histories of molesting children. Richard King, 60, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and has come forward with an abuse claim. He is represented by the Northwest Attorneys for Justice of Boise, Idaho. King said he is coming forward with an abuse claim for healing and to help others who may be afraid to come forward. "I'm not the only victim," King said. King said he was abused in 1959 by a priest at the St. Paul's Indian Mission. He has since spent the rest of his life trying to block out the memory and has battled alcoholism as a result. "It's something that has affected my whole life," King said. King has been able to rebound, serving a stint as a tribal judge and is now an alcohol counselor. The Northwest Attorneys for Justice have more than 50 claims in Montana. Tamaki Law Offices of Yakima, Wash., say they have gathered about 25 claims in Montana. Roosa said he's aware that more than 300 claims have been filed since filing opened in July. The Jesuits' bankruptcy filing does not mean that the society won't be able to pay claims, but there also is no guarantee of compensation if a claim is filed. Andrew Chasan, an attorney for Northwest, emphasized that this is not a crusade against the church. "This is a human issue, not a religious one. It's about what happened to children and the suffering they have endured as a consequence. Filing a claim is not going against the church, but rather asking that the abuse by a few be recognized for all the harm that has been done," Chasan said. The attorneys believe there are clergy sex abuse victims in Montana because priests who molested elsewhere were relocated to Indian mission schools in Montana. "People don't understand that they need to deal with this. There is help out there," King said.
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