Woman Alleges Priest Molested Her during 2-year "Exorcism"

By Douglas Stanglin
Usa Today
June 28, 2012

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/06/woman-alleges-priest-molested-her-during-2-year-exorcism/1#.T-1NvPXYKYs

A? Virginia woman claims in a $5.3 million lawsuit that a priest repeatedly molested her over a two-year period during what was supposed to be an exorcism.

The plaintiff, identified in court paper only as Jane Doe, filed the suit earlier this month against the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Va., its bishop and an anti-abortion ministry that employed the exorcist.

She is seeking $5.3 million in damages, the Associated Press reports.

The complaint alleges that she went to Rev. Thomas Euteneuer in 2008 to seek spiritual help and that he called her case "severe."

LOOK: Palm Beach Post's photo of Euteneuer

She alleges that the priest, then president of Virginia-based Human Life International Inc., made her promise full cooperation during treatment.

The plaintiff alleges that the exorcism sessions frequently involved inappropriate touching, including digital penetration, and directing her to undress, the AP reports.

"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 alleges, according to The Washington Post.

When she eventually complained to the diocese, the suit alleges, Euteneuer -- who performed exorcisms independently of his job at HLI -- resigned as president of the organization and was recalled to the Diocese of Palm Beach, the AP reports.

In a statement released a few months after his resignation, the AP reports, Euteneuer acknowledged "violating the boundaries of chastity with an adult female who was under my spiritual care" but said he never engaged in a sexual act.

The woman's lawyer says Euteneuer was not named in her suit because he and his client had reached a financial settlement over the case.

Michael J. Donohue, a spokesman for the diocese, says Euteneuer was never a priest of the Arlington diocese and was "not authorized to perform an exorcism on this woman," The Post reports.

Donohue also tells the paper that the diocese already has an exorcist.

Stephen Phelan, spokesman for HLI, said the woman's accusations focus entirely on actions by Euteneuer, the AP reports, and "we can only emphasize that such behavior was never within the scope of his employment with HLI."

He adds: "HLI intends to vigorously defend itself against these false accusations."

The Northern Virginia Daily quotes Euteneuer's Cincinnati lawyer, Tom Condit, as saying he hasn't spoken with the priest in awhile, adding, "At this point, he's not looking to be, or stay in the news over any of this."

The newspaper quotes a spokesperson for the Diocese of Palm Beach as saying she is not aware of Euteneuer's whereabouts, but that he "currently remains without priestly faculties."