Fox 4
August 25, 2011
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-former-metro-priest-sued-for-alleged-sexual-abuse-20110825,0,2207437.story
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.—
A metro man has filed a lawsuit against a former area priest, claiming that he was sexually abused by him during the 1980's.
The victim, who has not been identified, says that he was sexually abused by Father Mark Honhart when he was around nine years old. Honhart also faces a lawsuit from another alleged victim of sexual abuse filed last March.
On Thursday, members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, gathered outside of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese in a show of support for the latest alleged victim. The group is also demanding answers from the Diocese, claiming that the newest allegations of abuse are yet another violation of trust.
"The fact that they promised in the 2008 agreements to reach out and to reveal what they knew, no matter how long ago, to police and to be open about them, this is once again an example of they have failed to honor their agreement with the victims," said Barbara Dorris of SNAP.
In response to the lawsuit, the Diocese issued a statement that said, "During Father Honhart's ministry in the diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, there were no complaints of sexual misconduct brought to the attention of his superiors."
The Diocese went on to say that it will respond to any report of inappropriate behavior by members of the clergy, employees or church volunteers.
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