Disgraced Former Priest Accused of Repeatedly Molesting Woman during Two-year Exorcism

By Snejana Farberov
Daily Mail
June 28, 2012

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165820/Disgraced-priest-Thomas-Euteneuer-repeatedly-molested-woman-2-year-EXORCISM.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

A Virginia woman filed a lawsuit claiming that a former priest whom she approached for spiritual help after becoming convinced that she was possessed by the devil repeatedly molested her during a more than two-year exorcism.

The lawsuit filed earlier this month against the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, its bishop and an anti-abortion ministry that employed the exorcist seeks $5.35million in damages.

According to the complaint, the Warren County woman, identified as ‘Jane Doe,’ went to the Reverent Thomas Euteneuer, then president of Front Royal-based Human Life International Inc (HLI) - one of the nation’s biggest anti-abortion groups - for spiritual guidance in February of 2008.

Exorcist: A lawsuit accuses Reverend Thomas Euteneuer of sexually abusing a troubled woman who came to him for spiritual guidance

The lawsuit says Euteneuer knew that the woman believed she needed exorcism, and so he became her ‘deliverance minister.’ He told her that her case was ‘severe,’ but that he was sure he could help rid her body of a ‘demonic infestation’ of ‘unclean spirits,’ the Washington Post reported.

He then had her sign an agreement promising full cooperation, the complaint says.

For two months, Euteneuer touched the woman ‘in appropriate ways’ in his offices, then in April of 2008 told her ‘that he had received permission from the Diocese to perform the rite of exorcism,’ Doe alleges in her complaint.

The rite usually begins with a priest sprinkling holy water and saying prayers. In some cases, it is described as ending with the subject shaking violently, screaming or speaking in tongues. According to the lawsuit, however, Euteneuer went far beyond that.

On April 11, 2008, Euteneur allegedly began hugging the plaintiff while saying, 'I wish I could go a lot further.' He carried the woman into a guest residence bedroom at HLI, laid her on the bed, embraced her, touched her under her bra, and attempted to touch her under her underclothes, which the plaintiff stopped.

‘He kissed the corners of her mouth; stroked her legs, breasts and thighs; caressed her face; laid his body on top of hers; and frequently explained full, passionate kisses as ‘blowing the Holy Spirit into’ her,’ the lawsuit cited by the Post alleges.

Once, at a conference, the complaint states, Euteneuer invited the woman to his hotel room to ‘pray over’ her, then stripped her naked hes and assaulted her.

The former 50-year-old priest is also said to have on approximately six occasions, directed the plaintiff to undress; touched and kissed the plaintiff on all parts of her body; and digitally penetrated the plaintiff's vagina.’

Rite: The complaint against Euteneuer alleges that he explained passionate kisses as 'blowing the Holy Spirit into' the woman during exorcism sessions

The woman claims Euteneur’s conduct wrongly made her believe that ‘exorcism was tied to sexual activity, and sexual activity was necessary to keep her spiritual adviser.’

According to the lawsuit, he later began giving the woman money, made her relocate closer to his offices and offered her a job at HLI.

When he learned that she had kept a diary of their encounters, he allegedly asked to have it for safekeeping and then burned it.

The plaintiff eventually realized Euteneuer’s behaviour was inappropriate and approached the Diocese with her concerns, the complaint says.

Euteneuer, who performed exorcisms independently of his job at HLI, resigned as president of the organization in 2010 after working there for ten years and was recalled to the Diocese of Palm Beach, where he was ordained in 1988.

The Diocese of Arlington, which said it had not been served with the complaint, said Euteneuer had never been a priest of the diocese, and that he was never authorized to perform exorcisms.

Disgraced: Euteneuer ended up resigning in 2010 as president of the anti-abortion group Human Life International amid the sex scandal

The Arlington Diocese already has an exorcist, said spokesman Michael Donohue, one of about 50 who perform the rite in Catholic parishes across the country.

‘When the Diocese of Arlington learned of these allegations in 2010, they were reported promptly to the Diocese of Palm Beach, which then took action to recall him to Florida,’ Donahue said in a statement.

The lawsuit says, however, that the Diocese of Arlington ‘was responsible for the governance of the Roman Catholic priests practicing within its assigned geographical borders,’ and that Bishop Paul Loverde had an obligation to oversee all priests practicing within those borders.

Stephen Phelan, spokesman for HLI, which has affiliates in 80 countries, said the woman's accusations focus entirely on actions by Euteneuer, and ‘we can only emphasize that such behavior was never within the scope of his employment with HLI.’

Attorney Robert Hall, who represents Jane Doe, said Euteneuer was not named in the lawsuit because he and the woman previously reached a financial settlement out of court.

In a statement released a few months after his resignation, Euteneuer acknowledged ‘violating the boundaries of chastity with an adult female who was under my spiritual care’ but said his transgressions ‘did not involve the sexual act.’