BishopAccountability.org
	Former Wards of State Sue for Neglect, Abuse at Native School By Liz Jones KUOW November 24, 2011 http://kuow.org/program.php?id=25187 Eight Native Americans are suing Washington state for neglect while in state care. They claim the state placed them in a mission school decades ago where they were sexually abused by a Jesuit priest. Some of the alleged victims are now sharing their stories publicly for the first time, as KUOW's Liz Jones reports. TRANSCRIPT St. Mary's Mission School in Omak has already been the focus of a child sex–abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. The mission operated as a boarding school for Native Americans from the 1940s through the late '70s. Earlier this year, more than a hundred of its former students won part of a major settlement against Northwest Jesuits. Now, some alleged victims say they've since learned they were wards of the state when the abuse happened, and they want to hold the state accountable. Blaine Tamaki is their attorney. Tamaki: "What makes this case historic is our own state's role in allowing our children — Indian children, some of the most vulnerable and unprotected in our state — to be sexually molested while under state control and placement." A spokesman for the Department of Social and Health Services declined to comment on this pending litigation. The complaint centers on allegations against Reverend John Morse, who worked at St. Mary's. Morse has been the subject of dozens of abuse claims but has denied the allegations. At a press conference Tuesday, three of the plaintiffs came forward to share their experience at St. Mary's. They're all now in their 50s and have children of their own. Duane Paul twisted paper in his trembling hands as he spoke. He recalled trying to tell his social worker about the abuse that started when he was in the first grade. Paul: "She told me that I shouldn't be making up stories. She wouldn't ask me what was happening when I told her there were bad things happening there at St. Mary's Mission. I mean, who's going to believe a little kid?" The other alleged victims — Kathy Mendez and Theresa Bessette — sat at his side. They all talked about how that dark chapter affected their lives. Bessette speaks first. Bessette: "It affected my life through trust of men, trust of people that take care of you, scared of having children of your own and having it happen to them, being overprotective." Paul: "It confuses you so much, like I was confused about my sexuality." Mendez: "I was always afraid to touch my kids in certain ways. I didn't want to become an abuser. I held my children back from me. That hurts the most. I will always feel that I was cheated." The plaintiffs say they hope their case will help prevent similar abuses in the future. Attorney Blaine Tamaki expects state attorneys will try to have the case dismissed because the statute of limitations has expired. State law allows three years for alleged victims of child sexual abuse to pursue a civil case. That window of time starts when a victim identifies a connection between the abuse and other problems in their lives. A court date will likely be set soon. I'm Liz Jones, KUOW News.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.