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	Fair Lawn Priest Sued for Sexual Misconduct By Karen Sudol Daily Record November 24, 2009 http://www.northjersey.com/news/72196152.html An elderly woman has filed a lawsuit against a Fair Lawn priest who has admitted in court that he forced her to touch him in a sexual manner in 2007. The woman claims in the lawsuit that the actions of the Rev. Edson Fernando Costa, an assistant pastor at St. Anne's Church at the time, caused her "emotional distress, trauma, humiliation and degradation." She also names as defendants the St. Anne's pastor who supervised Costa, the church, the Archdiocese of Newark and the archbishop of Newark in the lawsuit filed on Nov. 10. On Nov. 15, 2007, the 72-year-old parishioner and 39-year-old priest were in a church hallway area when he embraced her, then took her hand and forced her to touch him, the complaint reads. "The plaintiff, shocked, horrified, humiliated and embarrassed, told the defendant … 'If you have any respect for me at all, then leave me alone,' " according to the lawsuit. Four days later, she told the pastor, the Rev. Joseph C. Doyle, about the incident, the lawsuit says. She then requested a meeting with the two priests, where Costa admitted the sexual contact to the parishioner and asked for forgiveness, according to the complaint. She called the Archdiocese of Newark in mid-December, which then contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, the lawsuit says. Costa was charged with criminal sexual contact in June 2008 and later entered the Pretrial Intervention program, a form of probation available for some first-time offenders, court records show. If he completes the program without violating the terms, he will have no criminal record. As part of entering the program, Costa admitted in court that he forced the parishioner to touch him inappropriately, according to prosecutors. He is on leave from the ministry since late 2007 and cannot celebrate Mass, wear a Roman collar or represent himself publicly as a priest, said Jim Goodness, spokesman for the archdiocese. The lawsuit alleges Doyle failed to protect the well-being of the parishioner and provide spiritual guidance to her. "Father Joseph C. Doyle did not contact the Archdiocese of Newark, nor any law enforcement agencies to advise them of the criminal conduct of the defendant ... and as a result, the plaintiff has suffered damages," the lawsuit says. Doyle said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it. The church, archdiocese and archbishop also breached a duty to properly supervise, instruct and direct Costa during his tenure at St. Anne's and were responsible for his actions and conduct, the suit says. The Archdiocese of Newark does not comment on any litigation, Goodness said. Costa could not be reached for comment. The plaintiff's attorney did not return phone calls. Contact: sudol@northjersey.com
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