Kc Man Sues the Diocese after He Says He Filed Sexual Harassment Complaints and Was Fired

By Christina Medina
NBC Action News
January 13, 2012

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/kc-man-sues-the-diocese-after-he-says-he-filed-sexual-harassment-complaints-and-was-fired

A Kansas City man said he endured sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and retaliation. He said he complained to several people and was then fired last year. Now, Larry Probst is suing the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City –St. Joseph. The civil lawsuit was filed in federal court this week.

According the lawsuit, Probst worked as a part time employee in the Archives Department from 2005 to 2011. His supervisor was Rev. Charles Michael Coleman. He also worked with Rev. Robert Cameron.

The lawsuit said he was “subjected to a sexually hostile work environment” and a co-worker “made sexual advances towards him” and that the priests would talk about other make co-workers in “sexually suggestive ways.” The lawsuit also said co-workers left sexually offensive messages on office computers and even looked at pornography.

Larry Prost’s attorney, Sarah Brown, said he’s a gentle spiritual man.

“He is a very devout catholic and he still is and it has been very difficult on him as a Catholic on how to witness and experience what he experienced,” said Brown.

She said he tried to take care of the issue while working there.

“He complained to numerous people in an attempt to get some resolution of the problem,” said Brown.

But she said last year, he was fired. And Brown said Probst is still unemployed.

“When you're a deeply spirited person and you lose upper connection with that faith it's a very deep soulful damage to your spirit," said Brown.

The diocese did release a statement Wednesday:

Kansas City, MO / Jan. 12, 2012– Through media representatives, the Diocese of Kansas City ~ St. Joseph has learned that Larry Probst, a former temporary worker, filed a civil lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri alleging unlawful workplace practices by the diocese.

The diocese can confirm that Larry Probst worked part-time on an intermittent and as-needed basis, when funds were available, in the Diocesan Archives from June 2005 until June 2011.

Along with four other positions, Proust’s temporary position was eliminated at the end of the diocesan fiscal year, on June 30, 2011, solely for budgetary reasons. At the same time, an existing full-time employee with six years of service to the diocese was assigned to offer support to four departments, including the Diocesan Archives.

Now the attorneys are waiting for the federal court to set a date.