Alleged Victim Speaks out on Diocese Proposed Settlement

By Charlie Misra
Beartooth NBC
February 8, 2014

http://www.beartoothnbc.com/news/montana/1677752588-alleged-victim-speaks-out-on-diocese-proposed-settlement.html

[with video]

When he was in the 6th and 7th grade at Saint Anthony's in Missoula, Michael Charles Allen was the only altar boy for the 6 AM mass.

It was during those years Allen says he was sexually abused.

"I have sleepless nights. Ever since I came forward on it, you know, I don't sleep well."

Allen says he was so scarred by it, he didn't tell anyone until just a couple of years ago. His therapist has a theory as to why he held on for so long.

"They said sometimes when you're abused and it's very bad, you usually tend to want to bury it, quickly."

Allen alleges he was abused 2-3 times per week at Saint Anthony’s School, which is now Loyola Sacred Heart. When he heard about the Diocese of Helena’s proposed $15 million settlement of 362 lawsuits of alleged child sexual abuse, he wasn't happy.

"I think it's kind of a slap in the face for the victims. There's a lot of victims. And i can understand that's a costly situation for the church. But you know, $44,000 for somebody whose life has been damaged and altered. That's not very much."

Allen says he has not gone to church for about 20 years. He says in some ways, telling someone about his past abuse was even more traumatic because it felt like he was reliving the abuse.

"It damages you, greatly. It takes away your childhood. And so from then on, you're kind of a damaged person stumbling through life, trying to get things on track. So basically, I wouldn't want that to happen to anybody else."