By Lona O'Connor
Sun-Sentinel
February 6, 2011
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-women-accuse-priest-20110206,0,3764390.story
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| Rev. Thomas Euteneuer |
A Catholic exorcist did not reveal all of his "inappropriate" relationships with women, according to his former employer.
In a statement released Wednesday, Human Life International said that more women came forward with allegations against the Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, its president for 10 years.
"Since the time of Rev. Euteneuer's resignation, the board subsequently learned of additional allegations in connection with his exorcism ministry," the Human Life International statement said. The organization said it referred all allegations to Gerald Barbarito, bishop of the Palm Beach Diocese, who is Euteneuer's boss.
Euteneuer resigned from Human Life International in August, at the request of its board. The only reason the group gave at the time was that Euteneuer had been ordered back by Barbarito to the Palm Beach Diocese.
Shortly after, Euteneuer's two newly published books, on exorcism and abortion, were no longer available for sale from HLI, their publisher. His Evening With an Exorcist talks were canceled.
For several months Euteneuer was silent, except for phone conversations with friends who were concerned about his welfare.
Then on Tuesday, Euteneuer released a statement admitting to inappropriate conduct with "one person only, an adult woman … under my spiritual care."
Also Tuesday, Barbarito wrote in a memo to priests that Euteneuer was undergoing "intensive evaluation and counseling."
Ordained in 1988, Euteneuer rose rapidly through the ranks of the Palm Beach Diocese. In 1999, he began a campaign against a Fort Pierce abortion clinic.
He and teacher Anne Lotierzo opened a Catholic pregnancy counseling center across the street from the abortion clinic. Euteneuer and Lotierzo later sued the clinic, claiming threats and intimidation. Those events were the subject of an HBO documentary, 12th and Delaware.
In 2000, he took the Human Life International post and soon became the very public face of the national anti-abortion movement. During his tenure at Human Life International, he became an exorcist, performing exorcisms throughout the world.
In 2007, Euteneuer told Fox News commentator Sean Hannity he would not give Hannity Communion because Hannity used his television show to air his view that birth control is better than abortion.
During that interview, Hannity asked Euteneuer, "Are you perfect, Father? Have you not sinned?"
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