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	Attorneys File Another Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit against Catholic Diocese By Kevin Maki NBC Montana September 27, 2011 http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/29321920/detail.html [with video] MISSOULA, Mont. -- Forty-five Native American men and women claim they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy in Montana. "These Indian children were sexually molested by nuns and priests," said their attorney Blaine Tamaki. "Instead of being taught how to read and write, these children were taught distrust and betrayal." They are adults now, and joined by family members at a press conference in Missoula. Most attended the Ursuline Academy mission school at St. Ignatius. I had a lot of emotional abuse from the first grade through the fifth grade there," said plaintiff Thomas Lozeau. Lozeau said he was slapped so hard at the school the handprint stayed on his face for two weeks. He won't publicly talk about other alleged abuses committed against him at the academy. Judy Reel said she was abused. "It's a horrendous thing to carry this throughout your life," she said. Jackie Trotchie came from a strict Catholic family. "If I had said anything back then I would have crushed my dad and brother," she said. In those days, she said, Native American girls had no power. "It was automatically your fault, whether it was or not," she said. The suit contends the Diocese oversaw the schools. But the Diocese says at this point it appears the clergy identified in the suit were not Diocesan. "It appears that the defendants are Ordered priests, or men or women religious whose direct supervisors were not the Bishop of the Diocese of Helena," said Diocese spokeswoman Renee St. Martin Wizeman. The U.S. Conference of Bishops acknowledged wrongdoing by Catholic clergy. "And there is sincere and heartfelt regret that any children were ever abused," said St. Martin Wizeman. Many of the plaintiffs were silent for decades. One man said it took 54 years for him to talk about the alleged abuse. Another only told his wife of 30 years, this week.
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